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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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TOP TIPS FOR FACING A PANEL INTERVIEW

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No matter what stage you are at in your career, attending an interview for your dream job can be a nerve-wracking experience. Wondering if you are making the right impression or considering what questions you may be asked can be a daunting prospect when you come face to face – either in person or remotely - with your interviewer. But imagine you are being quizzed by not one person, but two, three or even more.

Going for a new role which involves being interviewed by a panel can seem a huge challenge. With an increased number of people to impress you may be more worried about making a mistake. However, with some thorough preparation and our top tips, you can be confident in delivering the best interview that you can.

Find out who you will be interviewing with. Find out who will be making up the interview panel and research their particular role within the organisation – this will help you understand what they might be looking for during the interview. Consider the type of questions that they may ask you and which areas of your CV will be of most interest and relevance to them.

Be prepared.

Strike the right balance between having some well-thought through answers to likely questions prepared but don’t over rehearse your responses as they could sound forced and unnatural. Instead, review your CV and draw out points that you would like to convey during the interview which best demonstrate your skills and experience.

Be positive.

You have been invited to the interview, so they are obviously keen to find out more and have been impressed by the information you presented on your CV. Answer each question positively and remain enthusiastic throughout; you may find one person is asking some particularly difficult questions, but they are not looking to catch you out – most interviewers want the people they are interviewing to do well - so use every opportunity to demonstrate why you are the best person for the job.

Build a rapport with each person.

This can be particularly tricky as the more people that there are, then the more difficult it is to engage with each person. Each interviewer will have a different style and approach and there will be a tendency to focus upon those that are making you feel most comfortable – however, you could end up giving all your attention to one or two people. Address the person that has asked you each question but try to draw others in when giving your response through eye contact, body language or referring to a previous point or question raised by another member or the panel.

Appear natural and confident.

All eyes will be on you and the messages that you convey through your body language are as important and what you are saying during the interview. Stay relaxed throughout with good eye contact and posture. Convey you are interested in what is being said with positive gestures and facial expressions – and don’t forget to smile!

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 US today to find out more.