​Tips to becoming a great leader

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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You’ve worked hard and have just gained a promotion to a new management role. Whether it’s your first time in a leadership position or you’re moving to a new company, here are our suggestions on how to inspire and win the trust of your team.

Start as you mean to go on

Set the tone of your leadership style –people will be watching and listening as they develop their perceptions of you, so it is important that you come across as someone who is confident in the position but is also open to others having the opportunity to share their views.

Inspire from the outset

Make people aware of what it is that you are looking to achieve; ensure that there is clarity to your ambitions and communicate your goals in a way that others can understand what their contribution needs to be and inspires them to work with you to achieve them.

Involve others in making things happen

Good leaders recognise that it is impossible for them to do everything themselves. Delegate and trust others with particular areas of responsibility and give them the tools and the confidence that they need to enable them to develop their own solutions.

Set the right example

Be passionate, enthusiastic and proud of what you are looking to achieve. Recognise and praise the achievements of those around you and be sure to share good news with your team to help them stay motivated and inspired.

Bridge the gap between employees and the senior team

Whilst it is not necessarily possible – or advisable – to be the boss and one of the gang, it is important to demonstrate that everyone is on the same side and is working towards a common goal.

Let people make mistakes

Avoid the temptation of stepping in too early and instead allow people to work through problems and develop possible solutions for themselves, offering support and guidance where it is most needed.

No ideas are bad ideas

Encourage your team to develop ideas and innovate. Give clear guidelines and deadlines to ensure everything stays on track and create enthusiasm for coming up with new and different solutions.

Don’t be afraid to take a few risks

Be prepared to take calculated risks to ensure you continue to move forward with new ideas.

Make strong and credible decisions

Take note of all the information that is available and gather the thoughts and opinions of those around that you trust - when the time comes, have a plan in mind of how you will make things happen.

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.