Knowledge Hub – Finance Recruitment & Accountancy Insights

2025 forced businesses to slow down. Rising costs, cautious consumers and persistent uncertainty shifted focus from growth to control. Finance leaders prioritised cash, discipline and timing over optimism, setting the tone for a more measured approach into 2026.

Placed a Head of Finance into a £15m+ scaling technology business within seven weeks, transitioning finance from founder-led to structured. The hire strengthened reporting, controls and insight, giving leadership clearer visibility, decision-making and a finance function aligned with rapid growth.

Finance roles are placing increasing weight on clarity, judgement and communication. As decision cycles shorten and scrutiny rises, organisations value insight that supports action, not volume. The emphasis is shifting quietly towards usefulness, perspective and confidence in financial decision making.

Harper May appointed a Finance Director for a £10m professional services group in six weeks, establishing an in-house finance function. The hire brought immediate financial ownership, improved decision-making, and freed senior leadership to focus on strategic growth with renewed confidence.

ICAEW highlights key cyber risks for 2026, including AI-driven attacks, quantum threats to encryption, evolving regulation, and state-backed hacking. It stresses cyber insurance, cross-sector collaboration, professional skills development, and the continued importance of strong cyber hygiene across organisations.

A hospitality group undergoing rapid expansion needed a Finance Director to bring structure, clarity and scalable financial oversight. A targeted search delivered a leader with multisite expertise who strengthened reporting, improved visibility and re-established confidence, completing the hire in just five weeks.