Sharp Consultancy’s Salary Survey 2026/27: Finding the Best Talent in a Competitive Yorkshire Finance Market

Over the past 12 months, the Yorkshire finance and accountancy employment market has entered a relatively stable period following several years of volatility and rapid salary inflation.Hiring activity remains consistent across most finance disciplines, however employers are adopting a more cautious and measured approach to permanent recruitment, likely borne from the economic uncertainty businesses are navigating. As a result, there has been a wider increase across interim hires and salary movement has become more controlled with recruitment processes taking longer than in previous years. Despite this stabilisation, skills shortages continue to be a defining feature of the market. This is particularly evident between the qualified and senior level, where replacement hiring in key roles continues to exceed the available candidate pool and the data reflected in this salary survey aligns closely with what we are seeing daily across the Yorkshire finance market. While hiring volumes have levelled out, the underlying challenge remains unchanged: demand for high-quality finance professionals continues to outweigh supply. What the data does not always fully capture, but we have seen consistently across the market, is the increasing complexity behind each hire. Employers are no longer simply recruiting for technical capability; they are seeking finance professionals who can influence, adapt and add value, often in uncertain trading conditions. This has resulted in longer recruitment timelines, narrower shortlists and a growing reliance on trusted market insight to secure the right individuals. Across the candidate market we are seeing a more selective approach to new opportunities. Job seekers are making increasingly considered career decisions, weighing role scope, leadership quality, flexibility and long-term opportunity alongside salary. Many of the strongest candidates are not actively applying for roles, which means traditional, employer led recruitment strategies are no longer sufficient. Employers are no longer simply recruiting for technical capability; they are seeking finance professionals who can influence, adapt and add value, often in uncertain trading conditions.This is where a relationship-driven recruitment partner becomes vital. At Sharp Consultancy, and through our work with our executive division - The CFO Partnership - our long-standing relationships across the South Yorkshire finance community allow us to engage with high-performing talent that is not always visible to the wider market. Our understanding of both client environments and individual career motivations enables us to make introductions that are aligned not just on skills, but on culture, ambition and long-term fit. In a market where salary growth is increasingly controlled and competition for talent remains intense, our ability to advise, challenge and guide both clients and candidates is vital. Recruitment partnerships built on trust, transparency and deep market knowledge are what ultimately ensure the best outcomes - securing the right talent for our clients, and the right opportunities for the candidates we represent.

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Job description

Sharp Consultancy are delighted to be working with a long standing business based in Sheffield who are looking to appoint a Payroll Officer to take full ownership of the weekly payroll function. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in delivering a high level of accuracy.

Key Responsibilities will include:

End-to-end processing of a weekly payroll.
Ensuring compliance with current payroll legislation, including tax, pensions, and statutory deductions.
Managing new starters and leavers, ensuring accurate payroll setup and finalisation.
Processing absences in line with statutory requirements and company policies.
Administering company pension schemes and ensuring eligible employees are enrolled.
Handling payroll queries, providing clear and professional support to employees.
Processing additional payments and deductions as required.
Finalising payroll, including submissions to HMRC, payments, payslips, and P45s.

Alongside your payroll responsibilities, you will also provide ad hoc support to the wider accounts team.

The Person:

Proven payroll experience, including full end-to-end processing.
Strong working knowledge of Sage Payroll (essential).
High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Excellent organisational and communication skills.
Ability to manage deadlines and prioritise workload effectively.

This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional looking to take ownership of a busy payroll function within a supportive and collaborative environment.

For more information please apply or drop Tom an email at tomdavage@sharpconsultancy.com

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

Tom Davage

Senior Consultant

Payroll Officer

Job description