Resources

Recruitment has a reputation problem. Most people have a story where they felt like a number, a CV was sent without permission, or a conversation suddenly turned pushy the moment money was involved. If that’s been your experience, you’re right to be cautious. But here’s the honest truth about how we’ve built Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions: I’d rather lose a fee...

In recruitment, both sides can feel like they’re the one with the power, right up until they don’t. The recruiter’s value is making sure neither side overplays their hand. It sounds simple. It rarely is. I’ve been doing this long enough to watch the same dynamic play out repeatedly, across legal sector hiring, accountancy recruitment, and just about every salary...

For a long time, I was trained that being a good consultant meant being quick. Get the brief, get the CVs, get them out, keep the process moving. Speed matters in recruitment. But over time, confidence and experience have changed how I work. Not because I care less about pace, but because I care more about quality. If you’re applying...

Hybrid Working:  What Candidates Mean vs What Firms Hear Hybrid working should be simple. In reality, it’s one of the biggest sources of frustration I see on both sides of the market, because “hybrid” isn’t a standard term. In this guide, I break down what candidates usually mean when they ask for hybrid working, what firms often hear, and how...

Offer drop-outs are one of the most frustrating parts of hiring. You do the hard work, you find someone good, everyone agrees they’re the right fit and then it wobbles at the last moment. The good news: most drop-outs aren’t random. They’re usually the result of avoidable gaps in process, communication, or expectations. Here’s a practical guide UK firms can...

Are These Killing Your Ability to Hire? Most hiring issues are not “a candidate problem”. They are process problems. If you are struggling to land the people you actually want, here are three common culprits I see in professional hiring markets (legal and accountancy included). Use these as credible internal conversation starters, not as hard promises externally. 1) Speed wins...

Why tailoring your CV matters (and why good candidates get ignored) If you’re applying for roles and not getting traction, there’s a good chance it’s not your experience. It’s how your experience is being presented. We recently advertised for a Recruitment Consultant role and received 109 applications. A few people told us in messages or cover notes that they had...

Personal Branding – Forget the Noise (David Did It!) Starting the year off with a topic that’s a bit left-field for me: personal branding. Yes, it’s a little “me, me, me” (what do you expect from someone who named his blog and business after himself? 😂). But stick with me, because this one’s for anyone navigating legal, accountancy, or recruitment...

It was Dec 2023 that I decided to make a career move and sat down to think what that would look like. That decision launched my career forward and now I have a business I am excited to work at every day (mainly thanks to my team, clients and candidates). The festive season is upon us, and while most people...

Why December is the Best Month for a Career Move (and Why Waiting for January Could Hold You Back) December. For most, it’s a time of mince pies, Christmas jumpers, and winding down. But if you’re thinking about a career move, especially in the legal or accountancy sectors, this is the golden window you shouldn’t ignore. If you want to...

Last week, I swapped CVs and interviews for something completely different: building new pages on the H-FTS website. No, I’m not rebranding as a web developer any time soon. But I did spend my evenings writing content, adding images, and even getting stuck into the HTML. And honestly? I really enjoyed it – especially knowing it will help more people...

Why Ethical Recruitment Matters | H-FTS When Doing the Right Thing Means Losing Business Last week, I faced a decision that perfectly demonstrates why Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions operates differently from traditional UK recruitment agencies. A law firm contacted us about Private Client Solicitors  and from the email they reached out to us with, we had 2 suitable candidates locally from...

If you’re searching for accountancy recruitment in Yorkshire or exploring accountancy jobs in Leeds, Sheffield, York, or across the region, you’ve come to the right place. I’m David Hawthorne-Finch, Managing Director of Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions, and over the past decade, I’ve helped candidates find their perfect role across Yorkshire’s thriving accountancy sector. Yorkshire’s accountancy market is unique, it’s a blend...

By David Hawthorne-Finch, Managing Director at Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions Last Updated: 13 October 2025 If you’re an accountancy practice trying to hire an Audit Senior right now, you’ve probably experienced the frustration firsthand. You post the advert, wait weeks for applications, sift through CVs from candidates who aren’t quite right, conduct multiple rounds of interviews, and then, six months later,...

Why Professional Recruitment Isn’t About CV Volume Last week, I encountered a situation that perfectly illustrates the fundamental difference between professional recruitment services and the “spray and pray” approach that’s damaging our industry. The Client Experience That Changed Everything A Yorkshire-based accountancy practice approached H-FTS about filling a senior accounts role. Following our proven recruitment process, I: Their response? “Thanks...

If you’re in recruitment and have faced job rejection, or you’re considering internal recruitment vs agency partnerships, this story reveals why rejection often redirects us toward better opportunities. Sometimes the door that closes leads you to a better window – and occasionally, you get to prove exactly what they missed out on. The “Perfect” Internal Recruitment Opportunity That Wasn’t A...

Today brought one of those moments that perfectly encapsulates why we do what we do at Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions. An email landed in my inbox from a law firm client that made me pause and reflect on the stark difference between transactional recruitment and true consultative partnership. The Email That Started It All “Another recruiter contacted me today who knows...

Another tale from the UK recruitment trenches where professional courtesy in legal hiring seems to have gone on extended leave… Well, well, well. Gather ’round for another episode of “David Did It!” – where I spill the tea on legal and accountancy recruitment realities that would make your nan clutch her pearls. So picture this: one of our legal and...

Published by David Hawthorne-Finch | Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions The accountancy recruitment landscape has never been more competitive. With the Big 4 firms wielding massive budgets, prestigious brand names, and structured graduate programmes, you’d think independent accountancy practices wouldn’t stand a chance in attracting top talent. But here’s the thing – I’ve just witnessed something remarkable that completely challenges this assumption....

The talk of the Reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer has got me thinking of all the shows I grew up with coming back around and how it is like a candidate I placed last week that had applied years before and not been successful and now landed their dream role. So it got me thinking, let’s talk about the...

When I first heard about the four day work week legal sector trend, I’ll be honest – I was skeptical. Traditional industries like law and accountancy have always been built on billable hours, client demands, and the “always-on” mentality. But over the past few months, I’ve witnessed something remarkable that’s completely changed my perspective. The Reality Check That Changed Everything...

By David Hawthorne-Finch, Managing Director After over a decade in recruitment and building Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions from the ground up, I’ve witnessed countless market shifts. But 2025 has brought some of the most significant changes I’ve ever seen in legal and accountancy recruitment. Let me share what I’m observing from the frontlines. The Great Salary Surge: What’s Really Happening David...

Why Your Pay Structure Is Blocking Your Growth If you’ve ever been shocked by a candidate’s salary expectations, don’t worry you’re not alone.I had a conversation with a client recently (a brilliant Accountancy Practice in Leeds) who nearly fell off their chair when I shared the market rate for a highly skilled candidate they were interested in. “That’s way above...

Ah, Charmed – the iconic late ’90s/early 2000s TV show that gave us witchy wardrobes, demon-fighting drama, and the ultimate lesson in sisterhood (with the occasional power struggle thrown in for good measure). As I am was due to visit LA (which, let’s be honest, is amazing), I found myself rewatching a few classic Charmed episodes. The house that feature...