In a shifting economic landscape, hiring during a downturn can feel counterintuitive, yet it’s often when the most strategic moves are made. At Sheridan Maine, we’ve seen how strong finance teams become a genuine competitive advantage when market conditions tighten. While some businesses pause recruitment, market leaders continue to invest in top performers—strengthening their operations while others stand still. This year alone, demand for revenue accounting, tax, systems implementation and FP&A talent has grown by 12%, demonstrating that even in uncertain times, key roles remain critical.
Candidate behaviour, however, is evolving. Professionals are more open to conversations, but far more cautious about making a move, with job security now a primary concern. Notice periods have stretched to an average of three months, and remote or hybrid working remains a top priority in career decisions. At the same time, pay is flattening: 76% of professionals received only a 1–5% increase this year, and just 5.8% saw more than 5%, a sharp drop from 25% in 2023. For employers, this creates a unique window where sought-after talent is both accessible and more grounded in expectations.
The cost of leaving key finance roles unfilled, however, is rising. Beyond the salary budget, open vacancies create inefficiencies, slow processes, and increase risk exposure, often forcing businesses to rely on expensive external support. For roles such as Finance Director, Financial Controller or FP&A Manager, these hidden costs can quickly reach tens of thousands of pounds. The longer a vacancy remains open, the harder it becomes to find the right person and the deeper the impact on team performance.
That’s why a smart, proactive approach to hiring matters more than ever. At Sheridan Maine, we help businesses secure the right people quickly, aiming to fill vacancies within 14 days—half the industry average. With solutions ranging from contingency and retained search to subscription models and temp-to-perm pathways, we give employers flexible routes to building strong finance teams in any market. The talent is out there—and the companies that move decisively now will be the ones best positioned for what comes next.
