Our story
Chapter 1: The Foundation
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions was born from a vision to transform UK recruitment practices. While we officially launched in April 2024, our expertise runs deep - rooted in over a decade of recruitment experience that began in 2013. David Hawthorne-Finch, our CIPD-qualified founder, recognised the need for an ethical recruitment agency that prioritised genuine partnerships over quick placements.
David's recruitment journey started in student recruitment, guiding ambitious learners toward prestigious professional qualifications including ACCA, CIMA, HND, and CIPD courses. This early experience taught him the importance of matching the right person with the right opportunity - a philosophy that would later become the cornerstone of our legal and accountancy recruitment approach.
From these foundations, we learned that successful recruitment isn't just about filling positions - it's about understanding aspirations, building careers, and creating lasting partnerships that benefit everyone involved.
Chapter 2: Professional Development & Specialisation
In 2017, David achieved a pivotal milestone by earning his CIPD Certificate in HR - a qualification that would become fundamental to Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solution's professional recruitment approach. This wasn't just a personal accomplishment; it represented our commitment to industry-leading recruitment standards and ethical practices.
Armed with formal HR expertise, David expanded into the specialised field of veterinary recruitment, developing deep sector knowledge that would later inform our approach to legal and accountancy recruitment. The veterinary division successfully placed Vet Surgeons, Vet Nurses, and Clinical Directors in permanent and temporary positions across the UK, building the foundation of trust and precision that defines our recruitment methodology today.
This period taught us the importance of sector specialisation - understanding not just the technical requirements of roles, but the unique culture, challenges, and aspirations within each industry. These lessons would prove invaluable as we later focused our expertise on legal and accountancy recruitment.
Chapter 3: Expanding into Accountancy Recruitment
As David's reputation for ethical recruitment practices grew, so did his capabilities and sector expertise. Recognising the growing demand for qualified accountancy professionals across the UK, David expanded into accountancy recruitment, bringing the same personalised, transparent approach that had proven successful in veterinary recruitment.
This strategic diversification into accountancy recruitment allowed him to support independent practices and firms seeking ACA, ACCA, ATT, and CTA qualified professionals across audit, tax, bookkeeping, payroll, and management accounts. David's ability to understand the complex needs of different sectors - from technical qualifications to cultural fit - cemented David's reputation as a versatile and reliable recruitment partner.
Chapter 4: The Vision Realised
David's motivation for founding Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions in April 2024 was both simple and profound: he recognised the transformative power of ethical recruitment that truly connects the right person with the right opportunity. (Also his husband Lee gave him the motivation and support to launch the business). After over a decade of recruitment experience across student, veterinary, and accountancy sectors, David & Lee envisioned a recruitment agency that would revolutionise UK legal and accountancy recruitment through genuine partnerships, not quick placements.
His goal was ambitious yet clear - create an independent recruitment agency that stood out for its integrity, CIPD-qualified expertise, and deep understanding of both clients' and candidates' aspirations. Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions (H-FTS) represents the realisation of that vision: a testament to the belief that the right legal or accountancy role can transform a professional's career, while the right ACA, ACCA, ATT, or CTA qualified candidate can transform a practice.
From student recruitment in 2013 to launching H-FTS in 2024, our story demonstrates how ethical recruitment practices, combined with sector specialisation and genuine care for outcomes, creates lasting success. Today, with 100% client retention and a growing network of satisfied law firms and accountancy practices, we continue writing new chapters of success - one perfect match at a time.
Our journey from vision to reality proves that when recruitment is done with integrity, transparency, and genuine partnership, everyone wins: candidates find fulfilling careers, clients build stronger teams, and lasting relationships flourish across Yorkshire, London, North West England, and beyond.
Chapter 5: Strategic Team Expansion
By early 2025, Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions had exceeded all expectations. Our ethical recruitment approach and commitment to genuine partnerships had generated significant growth in clients, qualified candidates, and referrals across the UK legal and accountancy sectors.
With dedicated specialists now covering our core geographic markets - Yorkshire, London, and North West England - Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions was positioned to deliver even more personalised, sector-specific recruitment solutions while maintaining our 100% client retention rate.
Chapter 6: Leadership Evolution
As Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions continued to grow its clients and candidates network across the UK, it became clear that the expanding workload required additional client and candidate support. The solution came from within: Lee Hawthorne-Finch, David's husband and co-director, transitioned from a background role to become an active member of the recruitment team.
Lee joined as both People and Talent Director and Yorkshire & North West legal recruitment specialist, bringing crucial leadership expertise to support the team's ability to provide a client and candidate focussed delivery.