WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING A MOVE

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 ResponsibilityAs 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-DevelopmentAs 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. NetworkingNetworking 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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“We would like to offer you the role.” After a nerve-wracking interview, they are the words every candidate wants to hear. But before accepting a new position, what are the final few things that you should you consider, to ensure that this career move is the right one for you?

The research and preparation work that you did in applying for the role should have given you a good insight into whether this move would help you achieve your career goals. And the interview was as much of an opportunity for you to decide if this is a company you would like to work for as it was for the employer to assess if you were the best candidate for the vacancy.

Making the decision to accept a new role is not one that should be taken lightly; there are several factors to consider before writing your letter of resignation.

Take a step back. Remember why you started your job search in the first place. Were you looking for a new challenge? Did you want additional responsibilities? Had your personal circumstances changed and you were looking to relocate? By focusing upon what prompted you to consider making a move will help determine if this new role addresses those key areas.

Look ahead. Take into account your longer-term ambitions and assess how this role will help achieve them. Will there be further opportunities for progression within the organisation? Is there scope for promotion within your new department and what training will be provided to help you? Could you gain valuable experience that will stand you in good stead for a future move?

Money, money, money. Salary is one of the biggest decision-making factors; more often than not, you will be hoping for an increase in your pay but have realistic expectations, taking into account the current market conditions and any variations between locations. Make sure you consider the overall package being offered and determine what ‘value’ perks and benefits such as pension contributions, holiday entitlement, flexible working, and subsidised gym membership hold for you.

Location, location, location. If you are used to working in the centre of town, consider what differences you might find working on an out-of-town business park? Similarly, if your new employer is based in the city centre, what will that mean in terms of a daily commute? Are there good bus or rail links? What will the traffic be like and is there plenty of parking available? Is the commute one that you will be prepared – and can afford – to do every day?

Being part of the team. You spend a large proportion of your time at work, so it is vital that the environment and culture is one which suits your approach and personality. Sharing the company’s values and vision is key and gelling with other team members will be essential in allowing you to perform in your role to the best of your ability. You need to have a good rapport with your manager, peers and those you will be responsible for – can you work with these people, will you learn from them, do they motivate you, can you inspire them to get the best results?

Work life balance. If you have spent a large proportion of the last 18 months working from home, if your new role will be primarily office based, how do you feel about that? Likewise, if you are keen to spend more time working alongside your colleagues in an office environment, what provisions are in place with your new employer? Do you have the opportunity to shape your working week in a way that enables you to have more flexibility about when and where you work? And how would the organisation’s approach to flexible working impact on your ability to familiarise yourself with the company and your team and enable you to perform fully in your role?

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today to find out more.