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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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Part Qualified Finance
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Unlocking Your Potential in Part-Qualified Finance Careers

At Sharp Consultancy, we've led Part-Qualified financial recruitment across Yorkshire and the North Midlands for over 30 years. Our expertise and commitment to excellence make us the top choice for part-qualified finance roles such as accounts assistants, assistant accountants, management accountants, and more.

Why Choose Sharp Consultancy?

Our experienced consultants specialise in recruiting across all levels within part qualified finance. We offer unmatched insights and industry connections. Here’s why Sharp Consultancy is your best choice:

  • Unmatched Experience: Over 30 years of expertise in part qualified finance recruitment.

  • Dedicated Expertise: Our team focuses exclusively on part qualified finance, understanding industry-specific needs and trends deeply.

  • Personalised Approach: We prioritise finding the right role for you, aligning with your career goals and professional fit.

What Roles Can You Explore?

Part-qualified finance professionals have numerous opportunities available to them. Consider exploring roles such as:

  • Assistant Accountant/Accountants

  • Assistant Management Accountant/Management Accountant

  • Project Accountant

  • Financial Analysis

  • Accounts Assistants

The Benefits of Partnering with Us

  • Specialised Team: Our experienced team specialises solely in part-qualified finance recruitment, providing focused and expert guidance.

  • Tailored Matches: We understand that a strong part-qualified finance team is key to the success of a business's complete finance function. Hence, we strive to find roles that align perfectly with your qualifications and career ambitions.

  • Long-standing Relationships: Our long-standing relationships with businesses across the North mean that we are better suited than any other recruiter in the region to place you in roles that are aligned with your career goals.

Join Our Network

Ready to take the next step in your finance career? Submit your CV today to express your interest. Our commitment to excellence ensures you’ll receive the support and opportunities needed to thrive in your Transactional Finance career.

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    ​James has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He took the time to understand what I was looking for in my next role, and never strayed away from my preferences. I was quickly lined up with interviews for some great roles, one of which I accepted an offer from. ​

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    ​I cannot fault the service and professionalism Will showed me, he genuinely cared about me finding and enjoying my role. The care did not stop once I found my role, he continued to check in with how I was getting on with regular calls and emails. If only all recruitment consultants were like that.

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    ​Will absolutely smashed it, perfectly suited role to my skill set, plenty of opportunities for professional growth and the work atmosphere is aligned with my personal values. Will went above and beyond to negotiate my desired salary. He also reassured me that the move would be the right one for me. He wasn’t wrong!

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    Adam and the team made me feel very relaxed and always there to give advice. I felt like they were invested in me but not pushy, understood what I needed, perhaps more so than me. I would use you again and recommend to friends.

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    ​Will was 10 out of 10! He talked me through everything and supported me all the way! Thumbs up from me 👍

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    Jack was great at actually listening to me and understanding what I was looking for in a role. He didn't push any roles on me that I hadn't asked them to look for. I experienced great communication throughout the whole process which I greatly appreciated. I would definitely recommend Sharp Consultancy to friends and family. I will also be using you again in the future.

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