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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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Liam Connolly
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Liam Connolly

Senior Consultant

​Liam Connolly brings over a decade of varied recruitment experience to Sharp Consultancy, where he has been an invaluable team member for the past six years. After completing a three-year stint at Wakefield College studying Sports Science, Liam transitioned from an Accounts Assistant role at Yorkshire Auto Trader to the marketing side of the business.

It was in 2010 that his recruitment journey truly began, navigating sectors such as Office Support, Sales and Marketing, before ultimately specialising in Accountancy and Finance.

Since August 2018, Liam has specialised in recruiting for permanent transactional-level finance roles across West Yorkshire, from admin to management level positions including Credit Control, Accounts Assistant, Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger, and Payroll.

Described by friends as funny, competitive, and resilient, Liam brings a dynamic and engaging personality to his professional and personal life.

A devoted Manchester United fan, he spends much of his free time watching football with his teenage son or cheering on him during junior football matches around Yorkshire. Beyond football, Liam enjoys a variety of sports, is an avid film enthusiast, and loves taking long walks with his little dog and best mate, Benji.

Through his commitment, expertise, and passion for both work and play, Liam Connolly exemplifies the qualities that make him a trusted partner for clients and candidates alike.

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    ​Working with Sharps has been a fantastic experience. Liam C, in particular took the time to understand the needs of my team, our culture, and the specific skill sets we were looking for. Every candidate Liam put forward was not only top talent but also a strong cultural fit. Thanks to Liam’s support we’ve been able to fill a couple of key roles with excellent individuals who have made a real impact on my team. The entire process was seamless, efficient, and well communicated from start to finish. I would highly recommend Sharps to any business looking for a recruitment agency that genuinely cares about finding the right people for your team. ​​​

    Lauren Strawbridge - Credit Manager
    Lauren Strawbridge - Credit Manager
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    ​He's been helping me for years and never lets me down. 

    Joshua
    Joshua
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    ​Liam was very professional, knew exactly what I wanted. Wasn't pushy at all (which I had experienced with other recruitment agencies).

    Charlene
    Charlene
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    Absolute pleasure working with Liam Connolly! He helped me secure my role at JMG and helped me navigate the whole process with the best insights and advice!

    Shiza Ahmed
    Shiza Ahmed
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    ​I would rate your service as 10 due to Liam's help and guidance throughout the process. I have never gone through a recruitment agency before so I was unsure what to expect but Liam was extremely helpful. I would absolutely recommend your services and Liam in particular.

    Faye
    Faye
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    Liam Connolly has been amazing throughout my experience of finding a job. From the initial interview to finally securing my job. He has helped ease my anxiety in finding a new job and attending the interview.

    Maadiyah
    Maadiyah
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    I would recommend Sharp to colleagues. My previous company was very difficult to work around at times. Liam would call late and early, organise meeting and interviews around this particularly difficult schedule; and throughout, kept a balance of professionalism and friendliness which made the entire process feel easy and manageable. I couldn’t recommend Sharp Consultancy and in particular Liam Connolly highly enough.

    Oliver
    Oliver
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    I couldn't fault the recruiting service; the whole team was lovely since the first day we had a meeting. Liam then came to me with this opportunity and I managed to secure two jobs and start 1 in the space of less than 2 weeks. I also had other job offers and I spoke to Liam about it and we went thought the advantages and disadvantages of both jobs without him being biased and I’m so happy with the decision I made after that.

    Sophie
    Sophie
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    ​I have used Sharp Consultancy for over twenty years now, both in my professional career and when recruiting candidates for job roles within my team. I find them to be friendly and honest. They put forward candidates that are not only a good fit for the role but also for me and my team, as getting the correct personality is just as important as competency when recruiting candidates. Follow-ups are also actioned in a relaxed and friendly way. ​​​

    Jodi Lockwood - Credit Control Team Leader
    Jodi Lockwood - Credit Control Team Leader