As we approach the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, there’s a natural pause to reflect, reset, and refocus. Whether you're building your dream team, seeking a new role, or simply finding more joy in your work-life balance, this is the season to make it happen.
At ProTalent, we’re celebrating this new season with some standout moments; from recruitment wins and exciting opportunities, to personal milestones and meaningful fundraising. Here's what’s new and noteworthy this week:
Retained Search Success: Making the Impossible Possible
What Is Retained Search?
Unlike contingency recruitment, where recruiters are one of many racing to fill a role, retained search is a partnership. You engage a recruitment specialist exclusively, typically with a small upfront fee, to manage the entire process in a strategic, dedicated, and consultative way.
Retained search is ideal for:
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Senior or leadership roles
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Niche technical expertise
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Confidential or sensitive hires
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Building long-term talent pipelines
Think of it like hiring a personal recruiter with insider knowledge, deep networks, and a laser-sharp focus on finding your perfect fit, not just a CV that ticks a few boxes.
Why Firms Choose Retained Search for Critical Hires
In today’s accountancy market, competition for top talent is fierce. Good people are busy. They’re not scrolling job boards. They're not sending out CVs. Often, they’re not even actively looking.
Here’s where retained search becomes invaluable.
With retained search, you’re not waiting for the right candidate to find you. You're going out to find them.
At ProTalent, our retained process includes:
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In-depth role scoping and cultural analysis
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Bespoke advertising and discreet headhunting
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Professional candidate engagement and pre-screening
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Coordination of interviews, feedback, and offer management
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Post-placement support to ensure a smooth transition
It’s thorough, proactive, and delivers results.
Case Study: Securing the Dream Tax Hire
A recent success story speaks volumes.
We partnered with a thriving multi-office accountancy firm who’d been searching, unsuccessfully, for over six months to fill a senior tax role. Despite several interviews via traditional methods, they couldn’t find the right fit.
Their wish list? A CTA-qualified tax professional with deep technical knowledge, team leadership experience, and a real alignment with the firm’s culture and values.
The stakes were high: they needed someone to lead their tax strategy, develop junior staff, and eventually step into a partner-track role.
They turned to us for a retained search.
Within just 10 days of launching the campaign, we delivered a curated shortlist. Every candidate had been directly approached, interviewed, and vetted by us.
And the one they chose?
- Technically exceptional
- Culturally aligned
- Ambitious but humble
- Currently in a role they weren’t looking to leave, until the right opportunity came along
They weren’t just happy. They were thrilled. They told us the new hire already feels like part of the family.
That’s the power of retained.
Check out more information here: ProTalent Professional - ProTalent Limited
Hot Job of the Week: CTA Tax Manager | Horsham
Are you CTA qualified and ready to lead? We’re working with a progressive and fast-growing firm in Horsham that’s seeking a Tax Manager with a spark.
Why this role stands out:
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Hybrid working and flexibility that supports real work-life balance
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A genuine pathway to senior leadership – no glass ceilings here
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A collaborative, people-first environment where you can truly make an impact
Sound like your next move? Let’s have a confidential chat.
Rainbow Run: Running for a Brighter Tomorrow
This weekend, I’m proud to be taking part in the Rainbow Run alongside my twin daughters to support Children’s Hospice South West, a charity doing life-changing work for families navigating the unimaginable.
The run is colourful, joyful, and utterly messy, but behind the fun is a powerful mission: to raise funds for vital care, comfort, and compassion.
If you’re able to donate even a small amount, you’ll be helping families feel supported when they need it most.
👉 Support us here
Find Your People: Join Our Facebook Group
Sometimes, the best career advice isn’t in a blog or a workshop, it’s in a conversation. That’s why we’ve created a supportive space on Facebook just for professionals in the accountancy practice world.
Whether you're:
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Mapping your route to partner
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Considering a career change
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Navigating tricky team dynamics
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Or simply wanting to feel less alone in your journey
👉 Join the group here, we’d love to welcome you.
Final Thoughts
As the summer sun reaches its peak, think of this as your career’s solstice moment, a time to pause, reflect and plan for brighter days ahead.
Whether you’re hiring, job hunting, or just working on being your best professional self , we’re here to help you grow.
Wishing you a colourful, successful, and meaningful week ahead
With kindness,
Lydia Sinclair
Helping accountancy professionals build careers they love