​HANDING IN YOUR NOTICE

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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Congratulations – you’ve just secured a new role! Take a look at our advice on how to hand in your notice to ensure that you leave your current employer in the most professional way.

Firstly, you are likely to be excited about the new opportunity that awaits you however, make sure that you have received a formal job offer and a copy of your contract before you speak to your current manager.

Depending upon the size of the organisation you are currently working in, there may be a very clear procedure that you need to follow.

Whilst your resignation will need to be put in writing, you will more than likely need to request a meeting to tell your manager in person beforehand. Your resignation letter should be addressed to whomever you directly report to and, even if you have a less formal relationship with your line manager, this correspondence should remain factual and business-like.

Your letter of resignation should be given to your line manager during your meeting, keeping a copy for your own records.

There are some key points that your resignation letter should address and it is important that you check any specific terms and conditions of your contract before penning your notice. These include the date, a brief outline of your intention to leave your role and, based upon your required notice period, your expected last date of employment.

It is important that you remain professional, and you shouldn’t tell others in the organisation of your intention to leave before you have had the opportunity to speak with your line manager. You should also both agree how and when other team members will be informed and what plans need to be put in place to communicate the news to any clients, customers or suppliers that you deal with as part of your role.

Generally, it is not necessary to include your reasons for leaving within your resignation letter although these may be highlighted during the conversation with your line manager. You may also have the opportunity to partake in an exit interview; in both cases it is worth remembering that it is important to maintain good relationships for the remainder of your time work there – any beyond – and whilst you should be able to speak about why you have come to your decision you should always convey these constructively and professionally.

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 and see how we can help.