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 leading professional services organisation based in Sheffield in their recruitment for a Statutory Reporting Accountant to join their central finance team in a newly created role. This is a hands-on reporting role at the heart of the business, you will support a strengthened Central Finance team and work closely with the Financial Controller. You’ll play a key part in bringing together financial results across multiple UK entities, ensuring a smooth and efficient month end close, and contributing to the ongoing development of budgeting and forecasting processes.

This opportunity is perfectly suited to a qualified finance professional (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) who wants to build their technical expertise and gain broader commercial exposure within a trusted and highly respected national organisation. With the company’s strong local reputation, roles like this don’t come up often, making it a genuinely exciting opportunity to be part of their next phase of growth.

What’s on offer:

Salary between £55,000 - £60,000
2 days WFH
Private Healthcare
Private Pension
Enhanced Parental leave

Duties and responsibilities:

Lead the production of annual statutory accounts and financial statements in line with IFRS / UK GAAP
Act as the primary point of contact for external auditors, providing necessary documentation and explanations for audit inquiries
Assist with the consolidation of legal entities and provide data for tax reporting (corporation tax, VAT)
Support the consolidation of budgets and quarterly financial forecasts, providing detailed variance analysis for senior management
Coordinate with the wider central finance function to ensure a robust and timely month end close process, including supporting with the production of management accounts
Provide technical support and guidance on revenue recognition and acquisition planning
Manage the preparation of tax returns (VAT, Corporation Tax) and other regulatory submissions
Maintain robust internal controls to ensure integrity of financial data
Manage intercompany reconciliations and the consolidation of financial reporting across the wider business

For further information or a private and confidential conversation either for this specific opportunity or your personal job search please contact Emma Berry or Jack Curtis on 0114 261 1700.

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

Jack Curtis

Business Director

Statutory Reporting Accountant

Job description