Retained Search Success, World Food Day Celebrations & A Brilliant Audit Role in Sussex
From Lydia @ ProTalent | 14th October 2025
At ProTalent, we’re all about connection - connecting people with opportunities, businesses with talent, and sometimes even just colleagues over a shared love of food! This week’s update is a celebration of just that: a retained search success story, a global food celebration, and a brilliant new opportunity for someone in accountancy.
Retained Search Success – How Do You Find the Unfindable?
One of the most exciting (and rewarding) parts of our work is being asked to help fill a role that seems almost impossible on paper.
Recently, we partnered with a brilliant firm in London on a retained search for a VAT Partner - a key leadership position with very specific technical demands and a strong cultural fit requirement. As you can imagine, VAT Partners are in short supply, and most are settled comfortably in senior roles with no intention of moving. So this wasn’t just about finding a candidate - it was about finding the right one.
That’s where retained search comes into its own.
With the trust and space to fully immerse ourselves in the brief, we were able to:
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Map the entire market
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Approach high-calibre professionals discreetly
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Hold in-depth conversations around motivations, values and long-term goals
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Curate a shortlist of aligned, high-impact candidates
Through our ProTalent Professional retained search division, we brought structure, pace and real depth to the process - and we’re proud to say that the client made a successful hire within weeks. Their new VAT Partner is already adding value and driving change.
When Retained Search Makes Sense
Retained search isn’t just for boardroom hires. It’s ideal when:
If that sounds familiar and you’ve got a tricky role to fill, we’d love to help.
Celebrating World Food Day – 16th October
This Wednesday is World Food Day, and if you know ProTalent, you’ll know we’re very enthusiastic about anything involving food!
We’re lucky to work in a wonderfully diverse industry and team - and one of the ways we celebrate that is through the flavours we share. Whether it’s a homemade lunch, office bake-off, or Friday team takeaway, food plays a huge part in our culture.
To mark the day, we’re celebrating the dishes and traditions from around the world that bring us joy and connection:
Moroccan tagine, Thai green curry, Vietnamese pho, Italian risotto, Polish pączki, Indian roti, Ghanaian chocolate (yes, it counts!)
We’ve invited the team to bring in dishes from their heritage or travels this week, and we’d love to hear what you're cooking or ordering in too! Tag us or drop us a message - food is better when it’s shared.
Job of the Week: Audit & Accounts Semi Senior – Sussex
We’re currently working with a fantastic independent accountancy firm in Sussex who are on the lookout for an Audit & Accounts Semi Senior.
This is a great role for someone who’s part-qualified or newly qualified and looking to build on their experience across both audit and accounts. The firm offers a supportive, forward-thinking culture, hybrid working, and real scope for development.
Key Details:
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AAT qualified or ACA/ACCA part-qualified
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Some audit experience required
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Strong communication skills and client-facing confidence
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Based in or near Sussex (hybrid available)
If you or someone you know is looking for that next step in a positive, progressive environment, get in touch!
In Summary
This week reminded us why we do what we do - helping firms make key hires, bringing people together, and celebrating the things that make us all human (like good food and good work!).
If you’re hiring, job-hunting, or just want to chat about the state of the market, we’re here.
Here’s to a successful, flavourful and fulfilling week ahead!
Warm wishes,
Lydia x