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Trainee Accountant to Senior: How to Progress in Practice (Quickly!)

​Throughout my career as a specialist recruiter in professional practice, I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented, ambitious accountants, and some have progressed faster than others. While every journey is unique, there are clear patterns in what helps people move from trainee roles into more senior finance jobs within professional practice. Drawing from this experience, I’ve put together a set of strategies any accountant can adopt to accelerate their career up the professional practice ladder. These tactics have proven to be highly effective for those aiming to achieve their professional goals efficiently and successfully. ​​Embrace Increasing Responsibility​As you begin your career in accountancy, the scope of your duties often starts with basic tasks such as data entry, reconciling accounts, and preparing reports. While these tasks are important for building a foundation, taking on more responsibility is key to developing the skills and experience needed for progression in practice.Start by volunteering for more complex tasks that stretch your skillset, such as handling larger client accounts, managing financial forecasting, or (if possible) participating in audits. These challenges will expose you to new aspects of accountancy and allow you to learn beyond the day-to-day duties. Another way to progress quickly is by taking on leadership roles within a team or department. Taking on the responsibility of overseeing junior staff, delegating tasks, and ensuring deadlines are met can significantly enhance your development and provide you with the invaluable ‘management experience’ which is essential for trainee accountants looking to advance to the next step in their professional practice careers. ​Continuous Learning and Self-Development​As you challenge yourself with new responsibilities, actively pursuing knowledge and development goes hand in hand with completing further qualifications. Traditionally, most accountants I work with are newly or nearly AAT qualified which is a fantastic accomplishment in itself but for those with aspirations of climbing the ladder the next step should be further studies. Qualifications such as the ACA, ACCA or CTA (depending on your chosen specialism) will allow you to strengthen your technical expertise. It’s worth mentioning here that a good training contract and mentor are invaluable for the next step in your journey and should be a big factor when deciding to look for a new role after completing your AAT. ​Finding a Mentor Another important aspect of progressing quickly in accountancy is developing relationships with more experienced colleagues, supervisors, and managers. By seeking mentorship from more experienced professionals, you can gain insights into how they managed their career progression. Also, they can guide you in taking on appropriate challenges and responsibilities and help you navigate the complexities of the profession. Many of the most successful finance professionals credit their career growth to strong mentorship relationships established early in their journey. ​Networking​Networking is one of the most underutilised tools for career progression in finance. While it might feel intimidating at first, networking allows you to connect with and learn from likeminded individuals, stay informed about trends in professional practice, and discover new opportunities. One of the primary reasons networking is important is that it helps build valuable relationships that can last your career. By connecting with colleagues, senior professionals, and other stakeholders, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge, insights, and opportunities that can propel your career forward. Ultimately, networking is not just about what you can gain but also about what you can offer to others. By fostering meaningful relationships, you contribute to a collaborative and supportive community that benefits everyone involved. Here at Sharp Consultancy, we host events across the year and have a long-standing relationship with various institutions and training groups including S&DCASS (Sheffield and District Chartered Accountants Student Society), LCASS (Leeds Chartered Accountants Students Society) and First Intuition to host events that bring studiers together from various firms throughout Yorkshire. It really is a brilliant first step in your networking journey. ​Whether you're just starting out or already on your way up, accelerating your career in professional practice comes down to a mix of mindset, opportunity, and action. By embracing responsibility, committing to continuous learning, building genuine relationships, and tapping into the right support networks, you’ll put yourself in the best possible position to thrive. If you’d like to explore how to take that next step—or just want to chat through your options—I’d love to hear from you. Let’s connect and start shaping your future together. Charlie Marper, Business Manager, charliemarper@sharpconsultancy.com – 0114 261 1700 ​Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together. ​

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ACHIEVING A WORK LIFE BALANCE WHILST WORKING FROM HOME

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​Stress Awareness Month aims to increase public awareness of both the causes and cures of stress. A recent study by the Stress Management Society, identified that 65% of people in the UK have felt more stressed since the COVID19 restrictions began in March 2020.

The three key causes of concern are feelings of disconnection, uncertainty and a worrying lack of control. This is backed up by findings from the Mental Health Foundation which stated that 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Since restrictions were introduced more than 12 months ago, working from home has become the new normal for many employees across the region, and despite lockdown beginning to ease, homeworking – in some form - is set to continue for a number of business and organisations. As we try and balance work, rest and play all under the same roof, we outline our top tips for working from home.

Be organised

It is unlikely that you will be able to replicate your usual working week, especially if you are trying to juggle your job with childcare and, if a member of your household had to isolate, schoolwork. Plan ahead and make sure you co-ordinate your diary with your partner if possible so you have dedicated time to make calls or attend virtual meetings.

Understand your working ‘hours’

You may have had to adjust your working hours to manage your other commitments so look to break up your day into manageable chunks with a defined start and end time and regular breaks for lunch and to step away from your desk.

Take some time out

It is always important to take some time out during the working day and without the ‘benefit’ of a daily commute to switch off after a day in the office, it is essential that you make time during the day to get outside and do some exercise. A walk, cycle or run are ideal ways to help boost your overall well-being.

‘Leave’ work at the end of the day

Working from home can see employees doing more tasks in their non-working time as it is hard to separate home life from work life. If possible work in a room that you can close the door to at the end of the day; if not, make sure you tidy away your laptop at documents so you are not tempted to reach for them.

Make weekends different

Remember that Friday feeling? Make the most of weekends whilst working from home but making sure you switch off from work and do something on those days that you don’t have time to do during the week. Take a walk, arrange a movie night, organise a video catch up with friends or family.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT UStoday for expert advice on your next career move.