eFinancialCareers

Qualified accountants looking for a change from the norm could do worse than pitch their talents to Target Chartered Accountants. The star of this year’s Accountancy Age Top 50 is trying to hire 50 additional staff to deal with increased business.

Keith Seeley, group MD, says 22% of the firm’s turnover is currently related to financial services, but that it accounts for 49.5% of its revenue growth. London isn’t “fully on board yet,” he continues, adding that “The potential is enormous.”

With banks slashing staff, moving back to practice could be seen as a safe step. But Guy Emmerson, of recruiters Badenoch & Clark, warns it could impact career progression: “If you left practice as a manager and developed your career elsewhere, it could be hard to move back at a higher level than the one you left – so it could be more of a sideways step.”

Smaller practices can often be more flexible on salary than bigger firms tied to strict bandings – yet that can create problems. Michael Norris, of WH Marks Sattin, says, “One of my candidates is so highly valued by his small firm that he’s been put on a salary that’s too high for large firms to accommodate.”

Much of Target’s financial services portfolio is private client work. Keeley therefore says those who currently work in niche banks would be welcomed.

“We already have people here who have come from financial services teams in both large and small firms, as well as a number of banks,” he adds. “Mind-set is what’s important; we have big plans and need people who can keep pace.”