Why would you use Senior Interim Specialists to

Celebrating International Day of Accounting with David Cameron, Vice President of the LCASS

International Day of Accounting is an annual celebration to commemorate the publication of Luca Pacioli's book on double-entry bookkeeping in 1494 which is the bedrock of modern day accounting. In the modern day, International Day of Accounting is about the appreciation of the crucial work Accountants do and the recognition of their importance for business longevity and success. This year, we caught up with David Cameron of EY's Restructuring Team and Vice Presidentof the Leeds Chartered Accountants Student Society (LCASS) to gather his advice for those in the early days of their accounting career and insights about all things ACA.Starting a Career in Accounting 1.What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in accounting?I would say the sooner you realise that all of the exams require a fair amount of work and can’t be blagged (no matter how easy you found A-levels or university), the better. ACA is tough but I think it is certainly passable for most people, as long as you put the work in. The next big piece of advice I would give is if you go into the initial mundane tasks, when you first start, with a positive can-do attitude, it goes such a long way. The people who go into tasks with that outlook often find they move onto much more interesting tasks, quickly. Finally, the last tip I’d give to anyone starting out in accountancy is start building your network straight away, not only will it benefit your career in the end when everyone climbs the ranks together, it is even more beneficial from a social point of view at the junior levels. People you meet at networking events will become your friends and just enhance your overall experience when you are starting out. 2.How can recent graduates make themselves stand out to potential employers?It sounds cliché but I think showing your personality in an interview and just being yourself is something people feel as though they shouldn’t do. I really believe that that’s by far the easiest way to stand out. The majority of applicants will also have a great CV, the way you will stand out is by the employer thinking that they will enjoy working with you every day. Picking an ACA Specialism 3.Can you share some insights on the different specialisms available whilst studying ACA?Audit and Assurance:Examining financial statements and processes to verify accuracy and provide confidence to stakeholders through regulatory compliance. Tax:Advice on tax planning, compliance or strategy, dependent on what department of tax you’re in. Transactions:This could be a role in Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate Finance, Transaction Due Diligence or Restructuring. 4.How did you decide on your own specialism, and what influenced your choice?I work within the Restructuring service line and absolutely love it. I’d always had a big interest in how businesses work operationally, and Restructuring allows me to assist businesses through times of distress with the hope that we can help to provide a solution to save/improve the business. Being in the service line I am in, it has allowed me to think outside the box and use problem solving at work as there is never the same solution for each business in a time of crisis, with solutions ranging from running an accelerated sale process of the business to possibly refinancing its existing debt. What the ACA Has to Offer5.What are the key benefits of pursuing the ACA qualification?First and foremost, the comprehensive skillset you acquire through completion of the ACA qualification shouldn’t be overlooked as it allows you to apply knowledge you have learnt from topics/exams usually unrelated to your usual job role to situations where it is required or even personal situations. I believe that the practical work experience you gain (at least 450 days of practical work experience) whilst completing your ACA enables you to improve your technical skills at a far quicker rate as you are utilising knowledge you have learnt at work on a daily basis, to better your understanding of the technical aspects, something which you don’t get to do at university or school. I would say the largest benefit is realistically the career flexibility and opportunities it allows you to have access to. As mentioned above, there are so many different avenues that you can go down through having an ACA qualification. If you don’t like one role, you can quite easily try something different. 6.How does the ACA prepare accountants for the challenges both inside and outside of the profession?As touched on above, the comprehensive knowledge gained from an ACA qualification is fantastic and can be applied to so many different scenarios outside of an accountancy role, such as personal tax planning or even the strong financial acumen gained to assist with running your own business. ACA also of course reiterates the importance of ethical behaviour and integrity throughout your studying period which helps instil such traits into students. Learnings from this will help students make correct decisions at work or even in their own personal life when faced with difficult choices. Personal Journey into Accountancy 7.Can you tell us about your journey into accountancy and what inspired you to choose this career?I joined the EY Leeds Restructuring team back in 2020 via the school leaver programme. I probably got unlucky with the year I joined given we were in the midst of the pandemic, however, what I was certain of even back then was no matter what, I still just wanted to get into work rather than continue full time education. I was keen on the potential qualifications I would come out of university with; however, I knew that I had always much preferred working throughout school than the education side of things. I was drawn to the Restructuring apprenticeship due to the element of problem solving involved and the opportunity to leverage commercial skills. Admittedly, I wasn’t overjoyed about the prospect of 15 ACA exams, however, I knew the end goal was worth it and provided some incentive. Four years later and I have completed my ACA and my apprenticeship. I’d recommend this path to many, for the experience and level of qualification I’ve been able to obtain by such a young age, coupled with the opportunity to meet so many people that will be mates for life. 8.Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your career path?Nothing I would change that’s in my control. It would’ve been ideal to have joined at a time outside of the pandemic as it did effect the social side of things for the first year or so. To find out more about the ACA click here.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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Karen has over 20 years of recruitment of experience, including 18 years specialising within the Interim Accountancy and Finance sector, 10 of which she has spent at Sharp Consultancy.

We asked Karen for some insight into why so many clients and candidates trust us to get it right when needing an interim, and why organisations like yours should always consider using an Interim Specialist to support your business.

Are Interim Specialists Right for Your Business?

In the ever-changing landscape of accountancy and finance, interim specialists play an essential role in supporting organisations who need the right level of skills and experience, swiftly.

When might your organisation need an Interim Specialist?

Crisis – An unplanned gap in the team or an unexpected absence that needs attention ASAP
Change or Implementation – A process or period of change that creates a gap in the team, or a need for a specialist to lead new processes.
Specialist Projects – When embarking on projects of which you have no or little experience, interim experts can be hugely beneficial.
Long term planned absence – Gaps posed by long-term absences, such as maternity, sabbatical, secondment or similar can be navigated by using interim specialists.
Permanent hiring block– In this volatile economy, interim specialists give you the opportunity to trial a particular role within your organisation, enabling you to see if a hire will be crucial to your team’s success before employing a full-time specialist.

How do I hire an Interim Specialist?

First and foremost, at the centre of any hire is the person.

“Interim specialists are not the mercenary hires you may have been led to believe they might be! “

There is always a human element and that can present itself in many ways, whether that’s a delicate situation they are stepping into, or a team that needs to see a new addition as part of the collective. Interim specialists tend to come with the soft skills needed to bridge that gap quickly.

“To understand the interim market, I find you must live and breathe it. “

Our clients trust that we will not only find the right skillset, but also be able to work to the timescales they need, whilst utilising our extensive regional network and candidate pool to ensure the best fit.

Whilst there is an ever-growing range of nationally available candidates, the risk can far outweigh the reward if that candidate has not been met, interviewed, screened, and referenced. By strictly screening and knowing all of our candidates before they are introduced to a client, we ensure the fit is not just a generic one, but also a human one.

When I build an understanding of a candidate, I ask myself:

Can the candidate demonstrate the correct experience to succeed?
Will the team fit be right? Is the environment and culture a fit?
Are the expectations from both parties aligned?

Get this right and you are most likely to have a successful appointment.

I’ve spent years building strong relationships across both the client and candidate market. Not only do my candidates trust me, but my clients rely on me.

Remember

Some important things to remember when considering the benefits of interim specialists.

Costs – Whether it be short term, long term or on a fixed term contract, if you hire an interim, you know the cost and can budget effectively.
Commitment – Professional interim specialists will always have a duty of care, their reputation relies on it. If you hire for a specific project or period of time, you are very unlikely to not see completion, it’s just not in their nature.
Flexibility – If you don’t have the flexibility to respond to business-critical change in your existing team, Interim support gives you the ability to react quickly and efficiently.
Impact– One thing you can ensure when using an interim specialist is that they have seen plenty of different situations and environments, they will hit the ground running, and you won’t lose time with training, development, and on-boarding.
Skillset and expertise – If their experience says so, and they can demonstrate that they have, then they most likely can. Do you have that level of skillset within your current team? Or are you taking unnecessary risks by not utilising an interim specialist to bridge that gap?
Speed – From head count gaps, to notice period delays. If you need support, you probably need it now, and speed when hiring an interim specialist should not be taken lightly.

In Summary

The use of interim specialists should always be in your thoughts when planning or the unplanned occurs. Allowing your business and finance function to react quickly and effectively, by bringing in the right people at the right time, can make all the difference.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT UStoday and see how we can help.