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Sharp Consultancy's Salary Survey 2025/26: Resetting the Landscape: Strategic Shifts in Finance Recruitment

​It would be remiss not to start by addressing the elephant in the room — 2024 was a challenging year.While there were many reasons for this and numerous industries were affected, recruitment likely bore the brunt of it, particularly in the 6 months post-election(s).Whilst key roles and critical hires remained unaffected, certain head counts and processes were scrutinised and investment paused with internal restructures and automation utilised to reduce costs, in some instances, at the expense of employees. We subsequently saw an increase in candidate activity, with the talent pool strengthening. As those pressures eased in Quarter 4, recruitment processes saw improvement and green shoots have emerged. Optimism is on the rise in key hiring processes, albeit with a caveat. The cloud of additional cost increases in April, which is still dissipating. The senior finance and C-Suite market remains relatively unaffected, both regarding opportunities and candidates, it is the levels below that we have seen more change. In the evolving landscape of working dynamics, the volume of hybrid working is gradually waning despite sustained interest from candidates, presenting fewer job opportunities. While the blend of office and remote work remains desirable, it is no longer the predominant factor, indicating a notable shift in priorities for clients and candidates’ acceptance alike. Conversations with candidates underscore a growing desire around the importance of having a supportive mentor or manager and many professionals are increasingly open to a full-time return to the office if it guarantees enhanced guidance and avenues for professional advancement. "The salaries throughout transactional finance have stabilised across the region."Throughout the professional practice market, some similar trends have been observed but there have been noticeable differences in the past year. Salaries across the range of candidates in professional practice, from AAT to fully Qualified (ACA/ACCA) individuals are still rising and those firm’s able to offer competitive salaries alongside stronger training contracts are beating out the competition in a candidate market with a growing focus on study support packages and career advancement opportunities for Part-Qualified candidates, indicating an increase in demand from employers and the volume of available job seekers. The salaries throughout transactional finance have stabilised across the region, in what feels like the longest period of stability seen since Q4 2020 and we expect transactional finance salaries to remain stable throughout 2025/26, with anticipated salary increments to be moderate compared to the significant increases observed throughout the last 2 years. AI & Systems (process automation) continues to impact accountancy and finance, in particular, across larger functions but this has increased the need for wider interim support to assist with the transition and implementation especially with large, automated processes. Whilst 2025-26 will not be the same marketplace for recruitment as seen in previous years, there is certainly a growing level of optimism and whilst a more settled market may be seen as a negative in some areas, for those that have weathered the peaks and troughs over a longer period of time, it will feel very normal and a strong setting for both employees and employers to take advantage and thrive, with an increasing emphasis on growth and development.Download the full Salary Survey here!

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ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR YOUNG ACCOUNTANT OF THE YEAR 2022

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The strength and depth of exceptional accountancy and finance talent in the Yorkshire region is highlighted with the hugely popular Young Accountant of the Year annual awards.

After a one year hiatus due to COVID-19, the competition – which was established in 2000 and is run in conjunction with West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants – is back and nominations are now open.

Young Accountant of the Year 2022 aims to recognise the best of the region’s accountants who are either training to be qualified or have been qualified for up to two years.

Potential winners can be nominated by their colleagues, peers or senior managers and will have to satisfy a number of criteria including exam record, leadership and initiative and work and technical competence as well as demonstrating to the judges that they bring an extra element of star quality to their role. The awards are an ideal opportunity for employers to give thanks and recognition to hard-working and talented members of their teams.

The awards were last held in 2020 when Shereen Ayub from PwC triumphed over strong competition; Tom Rylands of KPMG was named runner-up with Rob Hainsworth of Deloitte taking third place and Tom Farnhill (RSM UK), Lauren Devenish (EY) and Rebecca Dawson (Garbutt & Elliott) all named as finalists.

The winner of the Young Accountant of the Year 2022 competition will receive a luxury weekend for two to London and the runners up will also receive a prize when the winner is announced at the LCASS Annual Dinner on Friday 22 April 2022. All entries will be reviewed and those shortlisted will be interviewed by a specially selected judging panel.

Lee Sweeney, Executive Director at Sharp Consultancy added: “Young Accountant of the Year showcases the strength and depth of young talent in our region and this year’s winner will join a very illustrious group of individuals who have since go on to achieve great things in their careers. Each year we are always extremely impressed by the exceptionally high standard of entries from those who will and will undoubtedly become an outstanding business leader in the future.”

Entries must be received by Monday 28 February 2022 and nominations forms can be downloaded here.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.