Privacy and Cookie Policy

From Leading Shared Services to Supporting SEND Families – Meet Samantha Ryan

When it comes to shared service management, Samantha knows her stuff.With a career built on navigating fast-paced change, leading high-performing teams, and staying two steps ahead of the next big thing in business ops, she’s seen (and solved) it all. But Sam’s talents don’t stop at spreadsheets and strategy—she’s also the author of SEND Help!, a heartfelt and practical guide for parents navigating the world of Special Educational Needs.In this Q&A, Liam O'Flaherty sat down with Samantha to chat about the reality of leadership in shared services—what it takes to thrive, what’s changing fast (spoiler alert: AI is knocking at the door), and why staying human in the digital age might just be the most powerful skill of all.Whether you're eyeing your first step into a shared services role or already deep in the trenches, Samantha’s insights are refreshingly honest, full of warmth, and packed with practical takeaways. Let's dive in.What do you think future leaders should prioritise or focus on most in order to successfully make themselves appointable as a shared service manager?I think it’s less about ticking off qualifications and more about showing you can actually lead people through mess and change. You need to be someone who stays calm under pressure, communicates clearly, and isn’t afraid to get stuck in. If you’re the kind of person who sees a knot and wants to untangle it, you’re probably halfway there already. When leading a shared services team, you need to have one eye on how your operation is running right now and the other eye on what’s coming down the pipeline - the next new technology or shared services operating strategy. Curiosity is key to ensuring you always stay abreast of emerging technology and ways of working.What are both the best and the most challenging aspects of being a shared service manager of a fast paced business?The best bit is the variety - you’re never bored. You get to fix things, improve how stuff works, and genuinely help people. I have always found great joy in my work and being of service to others, whether that’s leading a shared service team, a purchase to pay department or as a global process owner. The hardest part? There’s always something going on. Priorities change quickly, and you have to juggle a lot without dropping the ball. It can be exhausting some days, but also really rewarding when you get it rightWhat are your opinions about the relationship between a shared service manager and the CFO and CEO? What is critically important in building a successful partnership and providing the right support to the CEO/CFO?Trust is everything. They need to know you’ve got the detail covered, that you’ll flag issues early, and that you’re not sugar-coating anything. It’s also about understanding what keeps them up at night and making sure the shared service function isn’t adding to that. You’ve got to be steady, honest, and clear with no fluff.What new key skills or attributes do you think the next generation of shared service managers are going to need to develop?Flexibility and digital confidence. Things move quickly now, and you’ve got to be open to learning new systems, new ways of working, and even letting go of old ways that aren’t cutting it anymore. People skills still matter too, probably more than ever. This current generation expect a work/life balance and flexibility – neither of which are bad things. So, ensuring you understand the needs of your team and the culture of your workforce is essential.Are new technologies like Artificial Intelligence having much of an impact on your role as shared service manager yet? What impact do you think they will have over the next few years?Absolutely, AI has arrived. The key is to understand it, leverage it and not be afraid. AI can be really useful to shared service teams. Some of the repetitive stuff is getting automated, which is a win if it means teams can focus on the work that really needs a human brain. Over time, I think we’ll lean on AI more and more. It’ll still need people who understand the bigger picture and can spot when something doesn’t feel right. Shared Service leaders need to embrace AI and make it work effectively for their business.Is it possible to maintain a reasonable work life balance at shared service manager Level or do you have to accept that there will be personal sacrifices in order to progress to that level?Honestly? There are busy seasons and tough patches where balance goes out the window. But I do think it’s possible overall, you just have to be clear with yourself (and others) about what’s non-negotiable. I’ve learned not to feel guilty about switching off, because you can’t pour from an empty cup.Away from core knowledge, what personality traits have been critical to your success as a shared service manager? Are these natural or have you worked on developing them?Patience, humour, and the ability to stay calm when things get chaotic. Some of that’s just who I am, but I’ve definitely had to work on things like not taking things personally and learning to pick my battles. It’s a people-heavy role, so you need thick skin, but also empathy. What is the one single best piece of advice you were given early in your career that still holds true today?“Don’t wait to feel ready - just start” and “dress for the job you want, not the job you’ve got” (I actually think I first heard that on a Jennifer Aniston movie years ago!). I’ve learned that you grow into roles, not the other way round. Don’t wait to be asked to step forward in your role. Go that extra mile. Say yes, even if your voice trembles as you say it. Most people are winging it to some degree anyway. In ConclusionSamanthas’s approach to leadership is the kind we all wish we worked with—real, grounded, and refreshingly human. From embracing AI to keeping empathy at the centre of decision-making, she reminds us that successful leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about staying curious, stepping up, and staying calm when things get chaotic.Whether you're at the start of your shared services journey or eyeing your next big promotion, there’s something in Samantha’s story for everyone. And if you’re juggling a demanding role with life outside of work (who isn’t?), her reflections on balance, boundaries and being brave even when you’re not 100% ready hit just the right note.If you want to explore more of Samantha’s world beyond shared services, check out her brilliant book SEND Help!—a thoughtful, empowering guide for parents supporting children with Special Educational Needs. Because just like in business, when we work together, support each other, and lead with heart, amazing things happen.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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Sharp Consultancy (‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’) is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and that Sharp Consultancy is compliant with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This privacy policy (‘Privacy Policy’) explains how Sharp Consultancy uses the information that we collect about you and the procedures that Sharp Consultancy has in place to protect your personal information.

Who is the data controller for the information you provide us?

For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation, Sharp Consultancy is the data controller. Sharp Consultancy processes personal information in relation to its own staff, candidates and clients.

We ensure that the information you supply to us is processed fairly and lawfully, with care and skill and will only be used for the purposes set out in this privacy policy.

In case of any queries regarding the information we hold on you, please send an email to data@sharpconsultancy.com or write to, for the attention of our Compliance Officer: 202 Meadowhall Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S9 1BN

What kind of information do we collect from you?

Sharp Consultancy will collect personal information about you, including but not limited to your name, address, contact details and any information you have provided to Sharp Consultancy in relation to future employment such as your CV, references and qualification certificates.

On occasion, we may also collect sensitive personal information with your consent, for example, information relating to your health.

We will collect personal information from you by telephone, in person, in writing including all forms of electronic mail and through our website. On occasion, we may look at publicly available sources such as LinkedIn and other job boards, but we do not usually record any personal information. In the case that we do, we will contact you within the timescale required by applicable data protection laws.

How is your information used?

First and foremost, we will use your personal information to help us provide you with the best possible service in our capacity as a recruitment and consultancy service. Your personal information may be held, used, processed and disclosed by us for the following reasons:

To provide our recruitment and consultancy services to you, as listed on our site and to facilitate the recruitment process.
To answer your questions and enquiries.
To enable you to submit your CV or apply online for jobs.
To notify you about vacancies that we believe you may be interested in, where you have consented to do so and can unsubscribe at any time.
To send you details of reports, promotions, offers, networking and client events, and general information about the industry sectors which we consider may be of interest to you.
To send your personal information to clients in order to apply for/ assess your suitability for a job, where you have consented to do so.
To match your details with job vacancies and to assist us in finding a position that is most suitable for you.
To fulfil our obligations arising from any contracts entered into between you and us, for your future temporary employment.
To fulfil contractual obligations with our clients.
For internal record-keeping.
To maintain our business relationship, where you are a user of our website, a client or candidate.
To enable us to send you targeted, relevant marketing materials or other communications.
To improve our customer service and to make our services more valuable to you (including carrying out customer satisfaction surveys and tailoring our website to enrich your online experience).
To determine the effectiveness of promotional campaigns and advertising.
From time to time, we may contact you to make sure that the information stored on our system is complete, up to date and accurate.
To notify you of changes to our services.
If Sharp Consultancy and/or part of its business is sold or integrated with another business, your details may be disclosed to Sharp Consultancy’s advisers and any prospective purchasers and their advisers and new owners of the business.
To third parties where we have retained them to provide services that we, you or our client have requested including but not limited to references, qualifications, criminal reference checking services, verification of the details you have provided from a third party source and skill test results.
To trusted third parties who perform functions on behalf of Sharp Consultancy and provide services to us, such as professional advisors including accountancy and legal firms, IT support and cloud based service providers. These third parties have to comply with similar undertakings of privacy and confidentiality as Sharp Consultancy.
To comply with our legal, regulatory and compliance obligations in connection with the detection of crime or the collection of taxes or duties or to verify your identity.

Our legal basis for processing personal information?

Our legal basis for the processing of your personal information is our legitimate business interests, although we will also rely on contract, legal obligation and consent for specific uses of data.

We will rely on contract as a legal basis, if we are negotiating or have entered into a placement agreement with you or your organisation. In order to enter into a contract, we will need you to supply certain personal information as the contract will contain obligations on both your part and our part such as financial information to pay you.
Certain categories of your personal information may contractually be required as per instructions of our clients. In these circumstances, you will need to provide such personal information. We, or our client, may not be able to enter into a contract with you if the information is not provided.
We will rely on legal obligation if we are required to hold information on you to fulfil our legal obligations. There are some statutory and regulatory obligations which relate to businesses’ generally, for example complying with tax, bribery, fraud/crime prevention and cooperation with regulatory authorities such as HMRC.
Where you have entered into a contract with us and refuse to provide any information required by law such as information and documentation to establish your right to work and verification of identity, we reserve the right to end our business relationship with you.
We will process your personal information on the basis that you have consented to do so for one or more specific purposes. For example, you will have provided your written or verbal consent for us to use your information to receive specific marketing updates and to send your personal information to clients in order to apply for/ assess your suitability for a job.
You can withdraw your consent at any time.
The remainder of the processing is carried out under our legitimate business interests or the interests of a third party (client). We don’t consider any of the processing will prejudice you in any way and instead will help us offer a more tailored, efficient service for everyone.
We consider it to be reasonable to retain records of our dealings and transactions to ensure our business runs smoothly and to provide the best service possible.
We consider it to be reasonable to expect that if you are looking for employment or have posted your CV on a publicly available source, you are happy for us to collect and store this information to offer or provide our recruitment services to you.
You have the right to object to this processing if you wish by sending an email to data@sharpconsultancy.com . Please note, that in some cases we may continue to retain some information if we have an overriding business interest or legal obligation to do so.

Who has access to your information and where will it be held?

The information you supply may be disclosed to Sharp Consultancy staff in the UK, and with your prior consent, agents and employers seeking candidates for employment. Your information will also be disclosed to people to whom we may transfer rights and obligations in connection with our business, such as professional advisors like accountants and to any organisations that provide a service to Sharp Consultancy such as cloud based service providers, and who have agreed to keep your information confidential.

Our servers are all hosted from a datacentre in the UK which is ISO 27001 certified. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy, Sharp Consultancy protects all data from being disclosed to any other third parties except when required by law.

It is rare for information you provide us to be transferred out of European Economic area (EEA). In the case that the transfer of data is necessary to provide you with a service, we will notify you of the event.

How will Sharp Consultancy protect your information?

The internet is not a secure medium. However, Sharp Consultancy has put in place various technologies, strict policies and training for all employees to safeguard and protect your information from unauthorised and unlawful access, use, modification, destruction or loss. These technologies and policies, which are of the highest standards, are continuously improved.

Notwithstanding the above, it should be appreciated that no system is entirely fool-proof and you should be careful when you reveal any confidential information to any third party.

Sharp Consultancy shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure the security of the data, but shall have no liability for any loss or damage, including for access to data, caused by a distributed denial-of-service attack, viruses or other technologically harmful material that may infect the Client’s computer equipment, computer programs, data or other proprietary material through use of the Services.

How long will Sharp Consultancy hold your information for?

We will hold your information for as long as it is necessary to comply with our statutory and contractual obligations and in compliance with our legitimate business interests as a data controller.

Some categories of documents we hold will need to be retained longer than others. How long we retain different categories of personal information will be based on the purpose for which they are processed and our statutory and contractual obligations .Other information will be held for no longer than is necessary to protect our legitimate business interests as a data controller.

If we obtain payroll details for temporary workers in order to process payroll, we and a third party will be required by law to store this data for up to 7 years.

How you can access, transfer, modify or request information to be deleted?

You have the right at any time to access a copy of or to transfer the information we hold on you. Sharp Consultancy may ask you to verify your identity and for more information about your request. This service is free of charge but additional fees may apply when obtaining extra copies of the information. If for some reason your request is denied, Sharp Consultancy will provide you with reasons for doing so .We will also inform you of the supervisory authority you can lodge a complaint to.

Additionally, you have the right to amend, delete, withdraw your consent or restrict processing of the information which Sharp Consultancy holds on you, subject to certain expectations. Where Sharp Consultancy is unable to approve your request we will give you reasons for not doing so.

In all cases, we will seek to act on your request in the timescale required by applicable data protection laws.

Use of cookies

‘Cookies’ are small files, typically containing information such as a site name and unique

user ID, which are stored on a user's computer. Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.

Certain features on the Website are only available if you enable the cookie. Sharp Consultancy also uses a cookie to assist it to provide information which is relevant to your interest.

You are free to decline Sharp Consultancy cookies although that may impair certain features on the Website.

Sharp Consultancy may also track certain information through the use of JavaScript code and third party web site analytics providers such as Google Analytics.

Your rights and choices

You have a choice whether or not you wish to receive information from Sharp Consultancy. We will usually not contact you for marketing purposes unless you have given us prior consent.

We will use electronic profiling which involves human-decision making on our database to find jobs and opportunities based on your details. You may withdraw your consent or restrict Sharp Consultancy from processing your personal information in certain circumstances. Please note, this may affect the services we are able to supply you.

Finally, it should be remembered that the General Data Protection Regulation provide certain rights for you including:

The right to be informed
The right of access
The right to rectification
The right to erasure
The right to restrict processing
The right to data portability
The right to object
Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling

A good explanation of your rights (in English) is available on the website of the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office. For more information please visit the ICO website

Contact Details

At Sharp Consultancy, we welcome your views and if you would like to contact us with any queries or comments on how we have handled your personal information, please send an e- mail to data@sharpconsultancy.com or write to, for the attention of our Compliance Officer: 202 Meadowhall Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S9 1BN

Other Terms

Sharp Consultancy may contain links to other websites. If you click on a link, you are not protected by this Privacy Policy and you are advised to read the privacy policy of the other website as it may differ from this Privacy Policy. Sharp Consultancy cannot be responsible for the privacy policies and practices of other sites even if you access those using links on our website.

Sharp Consultancy reserves the right to amend this Policy from time to time as it deems necessary.