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FRS 102 Revised Seminar Brings South Yorkshire Finance Leaders Together

​In collaboration with Shorts Chartered Accountants, we recently hosted a seminar for senior finance professionals from across the region.The event brought together a number of Finance Directors, Financial Controllers and senior leaders from across the region for a morning of insight, discussion and networking over breakfast. It was a pleasure to welcome so many familiar faces, alongside new contacts, reflecting the strength and depth of the Yorkshire finance community. The seminar was presented by Howard Freeman, Audit & Accounts Partner, and Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance Partner at Shorts. We are extremely grateful to both speakers for sharing their time and expertise, and for delivering a clear, practical overview of the forthcoming changes to FRS 102, which came into effect on 1 January 2026 and are expected to impact a significant number of UK businesses. The session explored what is changing and why, particularly in relation to lease accounting and revenue recognition, and considered what the updates mean in practice for finance teams and business leaders. The speakers also addressed the new reporting requirements under FRS 102, the potential impact on EBITDA and valuation methodologies, and the key considerations for organisations as they prepare for implementation. Rather than focusing purely on technical detail, the seminar encouraged broader discussion around readiness, communication with stakeholders and the commercial implications of the changes. This led to a highly engaged Q&A session, with attendees sharing perspectives and experiences from their own organisations. At Sharp Consultancy, we are committed to supporting the finance community beyond recruitment alone. Events such as this form part of our ongoing effort to create opportunities for connection, knowledge-sharing and professional development among senior finance professionals. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Shorts for partnering with us on this event, and in particular to Howard and Andy for delivering such an informative and thought-provoking session. We are also grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. We look forward to hosting further events in the coming months and continuing to work closely with our network of finance leaders across the region.If you would like to discuss how these changes may impact your finance team, or if you are considering strengthening your leadership function, please contact us for a confidential conversation. ​

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Attracting Top Accountancy and Finance Talent in a Competitive Market

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The job market remains highly competitive — and not just for candidates.

For employers within accountancy and finance, attracting high-calibre professionals has become increasingly challenging. Offering a competitive salary alone is no longer enough. Skills shortages across transactional, part-qualified, qualified and senior finance roles continue to present a real barrier to business growth, particularly for organisations looking to scale or strengthen their finance function.

Even during periods of higher unemployment, experienced finance professionals with strong technical capability, commercial awareness and leadership potential remain in high demand. As a res

ult, businesses must work harder than ever to develop robust recruitment and retention strategies that appeal to today’s discerning candidates.

Understanding the Finance Candidate Mindset

 A person holds a paper cutout of a head filled with gears, symbolising thoughts or ideas in motion.

Finance professionals with in-demand skills are typically career-savvy and selective. Many are loyal to their current employer and will only consider a move if it clearly supports their long-term career o

bjectives. They assess opportunities carefully, weighing up not just remuneration, but the overall value proposition — including role scope, leadership quality, culture, progression and flexibility.

Equally, organisations that have invested significant time and resource into recruiting, developing and retaining strong finance teams should be doing everything possible to protect that investment. Retention is just as critical as attraction.

Taking a Long-Term Approach to Talent Strategy

To stay ahead of the competition, businesses need to adopt a long-term view of talent attraction, management and development. Building a strong finance function requires a balance of nurturing internal talent while also bringing in fresh perspectives, new ideas and specialist expertise when required.

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Upskilling existing employees, providing clear career pathways and supporting professional development — whether that’s study support, leadership training or exposure to broader commercial responsibilities — all contribute to long-term stability and improved retention.

What Makes an Employer Stand Out?

To attract the best accountancy and finance professionals, employers should consider:

  • How clearly their culture and values are communicated

  • The competitiveness and transparency of salary and benefits packages

  • What existing employees say about working there

  • Whether there is a visible sense of momentum, ambition and progression

Top candidates want to join forward-thinking organisations that can demonstrate growth, strong leadership and a commitment to employee development. They are looking for roles where they can add value — and employers must be ready to support and implement the ideas and improvements that ambitious finance professionals will want to drive.

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Standing Out for the Right Reasons

Attracting top finance talent is competitive, and the organisations that differentiate themselves through strong leadership, clear vision and a compelling employee proposition will ultimately secure the best people — and retain them.

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Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent accountancy and finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield, our experienced consultants support businesses across Yorkshire and beyond, helping them attract and retain high-quality finance talent.

Contact us today to find out more.