The Power of Long-Term Relationships in Recruitment

One of our core values at Sharp Consultancy is Relationships, and recently I was reminded exactly why that matters. We recently won a competitive recruitment tender with a key client across the region. Whilst our experience and market knowledge played a huge part, I genuinely believe the deciding factor was something much harder to replicate – trust. I've known the senior finance leader for several years before there was ever a recruitment project to discuss. During that time, we've met regularly for coffee, shared market insights, talked about the finance landscape and discussed the challenges businesses were facing. Most of these conversations didn't lead to a recruitment assignment, and that was never the point. For me, relationship building isn't about waiting for someone to have a vacancy, it's about being present, staying relevant and adding value over time. Sometimes that's sharing insight into the market, offering a different perspective on a hiring challenge or simply taking the time to understand what's happening in someone's business. These conversations build credibility long before there's a commercial opportunity. So, when the recruitment opportunity came around, I wasn't introducing myself or trying to prove we understood the business in a single meeting. We've already built that understanding over years of honest conversations and consistent support. We knew what was important to them, the challenges they faced and how they wanted to approach recruitment. Winning the work was a fantastic result, but more importantly, it reinforced what I believe great recruitment is all about. The best recruitment partnerships aren't built when a role becomes live, they're built in the months and years beforehand. Trust develops through consistency, honesty and a genuine interest in helping people succeed, not through one conversation or one successful placement. That's why Relationship is one of our values at Sharp Consultancy. Because when trust comes first, opportunities tend to follow. The piece of recruitment may have been the outcome, but the relationship was the foundation that made it possible.

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Job description

This is a rewarding opportunity based in Wetherby for a Part-Qualified or Qualified Management Accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) to join a respected manufacturing business with a long-standing market presence and a reputation for delivering high-quality products to customers across the UK and beyond.

The role is ideally suited to a finance professional seeking to further develop their management accounting experience within a production-focused environment, whilst gaining exposure to operational finance, cost analysis, and strategic business support.

Joining an established finance team, you will play a key role in delivering accurate financial reporting, analysing operational performance, and supporting informed decision-making across the business. The position provides the opportunity to gain valuable insight into manufacturing operations, supply chain activities, and commercial performance, whilst contributing to ongoing business improvement initiatives.

As Management Accountant, you will report directly to the Finance Manager and work closely with both finance and operational teams to understand key performance drivers across the business. Core responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Producing monthly management accounts, including detailed analysis of financial and operational performance
Assisting with the preparation of budgets, forecasts, and cash flow reporting
Preparing balance sheet reconciliations and investigating any variances or anomalies identified
Processing accruals, prepayments, and month-end journals to support accurate financial reporting
Monitoring manufacturing costs, overhead expenditure, inventory movements, and production performance
Analysing margins, labour costs, and operational efficiencies to provide meaningful commercial insight
Supporting month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring reporting deadlines are achieved
Assisting with audit requirements and the preparation of supporting schedules and documentation
Maintaining the accuracy and integrity of financial records, controls, and reporting systems
Producing ad hoc financial analysis to support investment decisions, cost-saving initiatives, and operational improvements
Working closely with production, procurement, and senior management teams to provide financial support and performance analysis
Identifying opportunities to enhance reporting processes, strengthen financial controls, and improve business performance

As your knowledge of the business develops, there will be opportunities to become involved in wider commercial projects, process improvement initiatives, and strategic decision-making activities, allowing you to make a meaningful contribution to the continued success of the organisation.

Ideally, the successful candidate will be either Part-Qualified or Fully Qualified (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) and will be able to demonstrate experience within a Management Accountant or similar finance role.

Sharp Consultancy is a finance and accountancy recruitment specialist assisting accounting and finance divisions of businesses in the Yorkshire and Derbyshire area. With over 30 years' experience we pride ourselves on sourcing excellent finance professionals across all divisions of an accounts function.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK full time without restriction. To apply please send your CV to the e-mail address stated, quoting our reference and specifying which website you saw this position advertised on. Due to the high volume of applications, we receive it is not always possible to respond to unsuccessful applicants. Therefore, if we have not responded to your application within seven days, please note that on this occasion your application has not been successful.

Consultant

William McHugh

Consultant

Management Accountant

Job description