Articles
68 articles- Finance Job Seeker Tips
What Finance Professionals Need to Know About Reaching CFO in the Next Decade
When we surveyed over 2,500 finance leaders for our 2026 Market Insight Guide, one theme came through repeatedly: the skills and experiences that built today's CFOs won't be enough for the next generation. The path is shifting and those who recognise it early have a real advantage.
- Finance Market Trends
2026 Finance & Accounting Market Insight & Salary Guide Available Now
Our 2026 Finance and Accounting Market Insight and Salary Guide is out now, built on insight from more than 2,500 finance leaders and qualified professionals across Media, Retail, Consumer, Technology, Hospitality, Financial Services and Professional Services. The finance profession has spent years talking about transformation.
- AI in Finance
AI in Finance: 2025 Is the Year We Stop Talking and Start Doing
There's a conversation happening in every finance team right now. You've probably had it yourself. It starts with someone mentioning AI. It moves through a few knowing nods. And then, more often than not, it stalls. Everyone agrees something is changing.
- AI in Finance
AI in Finance: Where We Are Now and What Lies Ahead
Artificial intelligence has shifted from an interesting experiment to a central pillar of modern financial strategy. What started as a set of productivity tools has become a structural force reshaping how finance teams operate, make decisions, and create value. Yet for all its promise, AI remains unevenly understood and unevenly implemented.
- AI in Finance
AI in Finance: From Hype to Hands-On Reality
The Consultancy Group were excited to host our second AI in Finance Roundtable for CFO’s and Finance Director from across industry last week in the city. CFOs are under increasing pressure to make AI deliver results, but with expectations often sky-high and guidance often thin, many finance teams haven’t moved past pilots or hype.
- Finance Market Trends
The Finance Business Partner Talent Crisis: Why Elite Financial Professionals Are So Hard to Find
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- AI in Finance
Peter Beard on GenAI in Finance, Skills Gaps, and the Future of Work
Peter Beard is a qualified accountant who became an AI evangelist after gaining access to ChatGPT just six days after its public launch. With over five years at EY, where he joined the exclusive global AI research group (120 of 400,000 staff), Peter now runs GenFinance.AI, helping CFOs and Finance Directors navigate AI adoption.
- Finance Market Trends
The Evolution of Finance Business Partners: From Number Crunchers to Strategic Catalysts
As a recruiter immersed in the finance and accounting landscape, I hear a consistent refrain from hiring managers, particularly in dynamic sectors like Technology, Fintech, and Retail: the bar for commercial finance professionals is rising at an unprecedented rate. The days of the "Excel-only" number cruncher, siloed in the back office and focused purely on historical reporting, are definitively over.
- Finance Market Trends
Mind the Gap: Why Finance’s AI Skills Pipeline Is Under Pressure
As AI transforms the role of Finance, a growing skills divide is threatening progress. A recent study of over 2,500 respondents in the US and UK reveals a stark truth: AI confidence drops dramatically from students to seasoned finance professionals.And the industry may not be ready for what comes next.
- Finance Leadership Interviews
Beyond the Numbers: A Global CFO on Leadership, Resilience, and Strategic Growth
Few finance leaders have successfully spanned the worlds of media, consultancy, and global finance with the same adaptability as Chris Waters. From early career foundations at Ernst & Young to leadership roles at Sony Music, Omnicom, and Ogilvy, Chris has built a career defined by bold transitions, strategic decision-making, and resilience in the face of change.
- Finance Leadership Interviews
Global Investment Strategies in Emerging Markets
Ananya Sengupta deeply understands the nuances of global M&A, private equity, and financial leadership. Having built a distinguished career spanning Africa, India, and beyond, Ananya has a wealth of knowledge in corporate finance, M&A, and strategic leadership.
- Finance Leadership Interviews
Breaking Barriers: Iveta Cabajova’s Vision for Leadership
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Iveta Cabajova for over 20 years, and in that time, she’s consistently impressed me with her brilliance, determination, and ability to lead from the front.
- Finance Market Trends
Retail’s Balancing Act: High-Street and Digital Integration with Supriya Mundra
Retail brands are navigating a complex balance between the allure of high-street stores and the reach of digital channels. As the dynamics between online convenience and in-person experience evolve, brands must find ways to merge these worlds strategically.
- Finance Market Trends
The 2025 Finance & Accountancy Market Insights Released
We are pleased to announce the release of our 2025 Finance & Accountancy Market Insight and Salary Guide, developed with input from over 2,500 finance professionals and leaders. This guide provides a detailed analysis of the key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the finance sector in the year ahead.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
Is a move into Commercial Finance right for me?
For most newly qualified ACAs, the career path has been clearly defined up to this point - three years of rigorous training in a specific discipline such as audit. Once their training contract ends, it’s often the first real opportunity they have had to step back and consider their next move.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
I want a Commercial Role - Navigating the First Career Move as a Newly Qualified ACA
September and October mark an exciting time for many newly qualified ACAs entering the job market. After years of rigorous training, exams, and balancing demanding audit schedules, many are eager to take their first step into the world of Commerce.
- Finance Leadership Interviews
Julian Johnson Talks Sustainability: Insights from Nala Renewables' CFO
We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Julian Johnson, the Chief Financial Officer at Nala Renewables. In an industry as essential as renewable energy, Julian's role extends beyond managing a company; it involves envisioning and implementing solutions that will have a lasting impact on the planet.
- Finance Market Trends
The Strategic Role of CFOs in Business Transformation Success
The role of the Chief Financial Officer has changed dramatically in recent years. This change is largely driven by the importance of digital transformation across modern organisations.
- Tax Policy & Legislation
Implications for UK Business Taxation Under the Starmer Administration
As we edge closer to the 2024-25 fiscal year, the UK's financial landscape is witnessing a significant uptick in tax revenue, expected to reach 36.5% of national income. According to an Institute for Fiscal Studies report, this nears the historical peak of 37.2% seen in 1948, with projections suggesting a rise to 37.1% by the 2028-29 fiscal year.
- Finance Talent Management
10 Must-Ask Interview Questions for the Modern CFO (2024 Update)
The role of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has evolved significantly over the years, and in 2024, it is more complex and critical than ever. Beyond managing finances and ensuring compliance, a CFO needs to be a strategic thinker, tech-savvy, and an effective leader.
- Tax Career Guidance
Revamp Your 2024 Online Presence With This LinkedIn Profile Update Strategy
In today's highly competitive job market, especially for exec-level roles, having a stellar LinkedIn profile is crucial to attracting the attention of recruiters and potential employers. In this article, we'll discuss some essential LinkedIn profile updates that will help you stand out, grow your professional network, and boost your chances of landing your dream job in finance.
- Tax Career Guidance
Comprehensive Guide to Acing Your Finance Interview
Are you ready to make a great impression on your next job interview? As a finance professional seeking new opportunities, thorough preparation is essential to differentiate yourself from other stellar candidates.
- Finance Market Trends
Finance & Accounting Salary Guide 2024
We're excited to introduce the latest 'Finance Market Insights and Salary Report 2024 - an essential tool for employers looking to strategically hire finance talent and for finance professionals looking to understand market rates, trends and career opportunities. Phil Dye, Co-Founder and Director of the Finance and Accounting Division, introduces the report.
- Finance Talent Management
Top 10 Tips to Boost Employee Retention and Secure Top Talent
As the British workforce grapples with the post-pandemic era, businesses nationwide are witnessing unprecedented turnover. Reducing employee turnover has emerged as a significant challenge for HR leaders, whilst company culture and employee engagement have become vital indicators of retention rates and overall job satisfaction.
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Monica Arora, EVP of Commercial Finance at Sage - Finance Leadership Interview Series [Video]
Monica Arora, the Executive Vice President for Commercial Finance at Sage, sits down with Phil Dye from The Consultancy Group for an insightful conversation on her career progression, the role of commercial finance, and the ever-evolving financial landscape in today's tech-driven world.
- Finance Diversity & Inclusion
Women in Accounting: Breaking Barriers & Promoting Equality
As the accounting profession continues to evolve and become more diverse, the advancement of women in accounting has become a major focus. According to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), women account for approximately 46% of all accountants and auditors in the UK.
- Finance Market Trends
Top 9 Emerging Trends in Management Accounting
Management accounting isn't just about crunching numbers. It's a critical process that helps businesses strategise, make informed decisions, and ensure financial health. As the business world evolves, so do the methodologies and technologies used in management accounting. This blog aims to unveil the 10 latest management accounting trends that can significantly impact your business.
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James Franks, CFO of Global Web Index – Finance Leadership Interview Series [Video]
As part of our finance leadership interview series, we've been sitting down with finance directors and CFOs to discuss their experiences, insight, and views on what it takes to become a successful finance leader. Today it gives me great pleasure to introduce James Franks.
- Finance Market Trends
Exit Strategies: Preparing Your Start-up for a Successful Sale or IPO
Picture this: you're steering your start-up through the dynamic business landscape. Every move you make shapes the future of your venture. It's like navigating a bustling market, and at times, you need a clear business plan – your guiding star, to help you sail through the stock market and its ever-changing market conditions.
- Finance Talent Management
Why Every Company Needs a Finance Business Partner
In today's shifting business environment, the role of a finance business partner (FBP) is increasingly vital. Beyond just number crunching, FBPs now play a central role in organisational strategy, aligning financial information with pivotal business decisions. By integrating finance into decision-making, companies, from London's financial hubs to Manchester's emerging sectors, can better navigate business intricacies.
- Finance Market Trends
Sustainability and Finance: Integrating ESG Factors in Financial Analysis
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have transformed from niche considerations to fundamental elements in the landscape of financial analysis. These components evaluate a company's impact on the world, covering aspects ranging from greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity to labour relations and corporate governance.
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Billie O'Connor, CFO of Milk & More - Finance Leadership Interview Series [Video]
Billie, who now works as the CFO of Milk & More, has held significant positions in companies such as M&S, Debenhams, and the Esporter Group, which was later sold to Virgin Active. Phil Dye: Can you talk about your career progression, Billie?
- Tax Career Guidance
The Ultimate Guide to Staying Motivated During Your Job Hunt: 10 Essential Strategies
Embarking on a job search can be an exciting yet challenging experience. Whether searching for your first job, considering a career change, or rebounding from a layoff, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the job-hunting process. Rejection, endless cover letters, and radio silence from prospective employers can take a toll on your mental health.
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Vineta Bajaj, CFO of Rohlik Group - Finance Leadership Interview Series [Video]
As part of our Finance leadership interview series, we've been sitting down with finance directors and chief financial officers to discuss their experiences, insight and views on what it takes to become a successful finance leader today. It gives me great pleasure to introduce Vineta Bajaj.
- Tax Hiring Strategy
Five Big Risks of Making Low Salary Offers
We are operating in an incredibly competitive market, more so now than ever before. We’ve seen many organisations lose impeccable talent due to not being able to keep up or deliver on package demands. Although candidates aren’t solely motivated by financial package, it can be a dealbreaker for many.
- Finance Talent Management
Protecting your Investment in PQ Study Fees
It is fairly common practice for an employer to pay the study fees to enable a PQ candidate to complete their training on the job - earning while gaining valuable experience in an accounting or finance role.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
Newly Qualified ACA?
Congratulations! You’re a newly qualified ACA. Although this is certainly a cause for celebration, we understand that the career options ahead can be daunting, now that you’re suddenly in such demand. And, for some - the paradox of choice can become all too much.
- Finance Talent Management
Danger: Counter Offer Ahead
The drastic changes in the workplace since the global pandemic have shifted the focus on how we view work, flexibility and work/life balance. Despite being initially forced to work from home, the majority of employees have proven that productivity and communication can be maintained working remotely.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
CIMA versus ACCA
Professional qualifications in accounting are often required by graduates and others in the field as a way of boosting their CVs for the highly competitive labour market. Among such qualifications are those offered by the CIMA and the ACCA.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
How to Become a Commercial Accountant
In recent years, advancements in technology, the proliferation of big data, and underlying market conditions have elevated the finance function to become the strategic heartbeat of any business. The role of finance teams has grown, and as such, the skill sets of commercial accountants have widened significantly.
- Finance Market Trends
Top 5 Questions CFOs should ask themselves
CFOs are under consistent pressure to ensure that an organisation is delivering. From the more obvious responsibilities such as financial performance, budgeting and analysis to holding key influence when it comes to hiring and onboarding new partners and vendors, CFOs have an ever-growing list of things they need to keep tabs on.
- Finance Diversity & Inclusion
Sabbaticals, Secondments and Career Breaks
There comes a time in many employees’ careers when they need to take a break or make a change but don’t necessarily want to move jobs.
- Tax Hiring Strategy
Three Ways to Streamline your Interview Process & Attract More Talent
Recruiting and hiring are challenging, particularly if you’re an organisation with aggressive growth milestones that you need to hit. Not only are you competing with organisations in proximity, but the market has become truly global over the past 12-18 months, as remote and hybrid working has become the norm.
- Finance Talent Management
5 Reasons why Internal Recruiters & External Agencies Should Work Together
Let’s address the elephant in the room: internal recruiters and internal talent teams aren’t fans of agencies, and agencies often don’t understand how valuable (and crucial) it is to build and maintain relationships with talent.
- Finance Diversity & Inclusion
Recharging Productivity with Mental Health Benefits in the Workplace
The pandemic and subsequent social isolation shed new light on the importance of mental health in the UK workplace. With mental health issues becoming a common concern, companies are now asking whether employee benefits programmes that focus on mental well-being improve productivity and team morale?
- Finance Talent Management
Exploring Time to Hire
The market for finance talent is still incredibly buoyant, and high-calibre finance professionals are still in demand. However, time to hire is still essential for employers to consider - no matter the market climate. Even in the depths of the pandemic, urgency is paramount.
- Finance Talent Management
The Real Cost of Getting Recruitment Wrong
Imagine investing in cutting-edge tech – updating hardware, installing new software, moving from a legacy system via company-wide training – only for it to fail in six months, forcing you to start again.
- Finance Talent Management
Six Employee Retention Strategies to Implement
The knock-on effect can be significant when employees quit, whatever their level. There are associated costs in hiring and training a replacement, but morale and productivity can dip or even plummet if several team members leave at once.
- Finance Diversity & Inclusion
Reducing Unconscious Bias in Recruitment
Following our successful webinar with Hayley Barnard of MIX Diversity on unconscious bias within the recruitment process, we thought it would be useful to share some of the wisdom we learned from the event with you. Unconscious bias refers to ingrained beliefs, attitudes or perceptions, positive or negative, towards certain groups of people that exist outside of our conscious awareness.
- Finance Diversity & Inclusion
The Benefits of Shared Parental Leave
Following the introduction of new regulations in 2015, women were given the option of exchanging their maternity leave for shared parental leave (SPL). After the initial two weeks leave new mothers are still obliged to take, parents can choose how to divide the remaining 50 weeks they’re entitled to between them.
- Finance Market Trends
How Do you Prepare For a Virtual Audit?
In these challenging economic times and with nothing but uncertainty on the horizon, it’s more important than ever that businesses keep on top of regulatory requirements and changing legislation, ensuring their audit goes ahead as usual.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
Is Now a Good Time to Leave a Job in Practice & Move to Industry?
For many freshly ACA-qualified accountants, their first question to us will be, "Is now a good time to be leaving my job in practice for the industry?". The finance department is becoming more vital than ever to businesses during the pandemic, and there is increasing demand within the industry to fill out teams.
- Finance Talent Management
How to Onboard New Staff Remotely
With many companies choosing to hire remotely in this current climate, we thought it would be a good time to look at how businesses can onboard new employees remotely. Undoubtedly, fully remote working adds additional challenges to the onboarding process, so we’ve put together five recommendations on how you can make the process as smooth and effective as possible.
- Finance Diversity & Inclusion
The Priorities for the Gen Z Workforce
We recently looked at how Millennials have changed the workplace in terms of work/life balance and their professional goals and expectations, while much has been written about how their attitudes differ from their Baby Boomer or Generation X employers.
- Finance Diversity & Inclusion
How Millennials are Changing the Workplace & Why Hiring Managers Need to Listen
Millennials tend to get a bad rap. They have often been labelled as lazy or entitled and glued to their smartphones. Contrary to popular belief, however, this is an extremely hard-working generation. With an awareness of the value of growing their skills, strengthening relationships and exploring opportunities, most don’t mind putting in the extra hours.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
How to Deal with Redundancy
Losing your job through redundancy can be one of the hardest and most upsetting things to face. Worries about how you will cope financially can knock your confidence down, leave you feeling ashamed or confused, and cause a great deal of stress.
- Finance Market Trends
It Doesn’t have to be a Quiet Festive Season in Recruitment
Traditionally, December is always seen as the quietest month in recruitment. September is always busy as people come back from summer holidays with renewed interest, then the knock-on effect of that makes October hectic too.
- Finance Talent Management
The Secret to Retaining Good People
Loyalty can be the glue that holds a business together. It’s what makes employees come to work in the morning and it’s what keeps clients or customers with one company instead of the competition.
- Tax Career Guidance
Pros and Cons of Working for a Big or Small Business
When considering a career move, one of the most overlooked considerations is the size of the company.
- Finance Market Trends
The Rise of the Finance Business Partner
In a world where businesses are feeling increasingly vulnerable about the commercial and financial risks they’re exposed to, the requirements of finance professionals are rapidly changing. Conventional finance roles used to focus on historical numbers and be reactive, but the industry now demands individuals who can look forward, provide strategic insights and drive performance.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
What it Takes to Become a Commercial Accountant
In recent years, advances in technology, the proliferation of big data, and underlying market conditions have elevated the finance function to become the strategic heartbeat of any business. The role of finance teams has grown, and as such, the skills sets of commercial accountants have widened significantly.
- Finance Market Trends
The Importance of Networking in Recruitment
As technology improves at pace and trends come and go, the recruitment landscape seems to alter with the launch of the next social media channel or change in general working practices. But at its heart, recruitment has always been a people business, and as such, networking has been and always will be a constant.
- Finance Talent Management
How Important is Industry Specific Experience When Recruiting Into Finance?
Industry experience became a useful buzzword term in the days before a candidate-driven market, when employers had so many applicants they had to narrow down their long list somehow. When opportunities are thin on the ground, good candidates are plentiful and so a lack of industry experience is an easy eliminator for a hiring manager.
- Finance Market Trends
December is a Good Time to Look for Work
December is an easy month to take your foot off the gas and coast towards the end of the year. It’s dark and cold going into and home from work; there are endless social events to attend; and the office is likely to be closed for a third of the month.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
Do I Wait for my Bonus?
There is a perspective that if you entertain the thought of moving jobs within three to six months of bonus season, you will jeopardise your annual bonus payment. Often in the months of October, November and December candidate start to withdraw themselves from pursuing opportunities in lieu of and an expected bonus payment.
- Finance Market Trends
What Impact will GDPR have on the Construction Industry?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU’s new legislation that will replace UK Data Law (regardless of Brexit), comes into force in May 2018, meaning that unprepared businesses across all sectors have just eight more months to appoint someone in-house to ensure that all data infrastructure, cloud storage, tech policies and procedures are ready to meet the new regulations.
- Finance Job Seeker Tips
The Common Interview Question That isn’t What it Seems
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- Finance Market Trends
The 2017 CFO – From Number Cruncher to Strategic Business Partner
The role of the modern CFO is rapidly changing, due to the adoption of digital automation, data and analytics. They are spending less time each year on the historical CFO concerns of annual budgets, compliance and administration to become crucial players in board level decision making.