At Harold Sharp, we take pride in the diverse and inspiring career paths of our team members. In our new spotlight interview series, we explore the journeys of our colleagues, from their initial steps toward qualification to the exciting developments that followed.
First in the hot seat is Charlotte (Charley) Hinchcliffe who joined Harold Sharp 19 years ago as a trainee and now sits as one of our esteemed Directors.
Armed with A Levels in Mathematics, History and Business Studies and a degree in Accounting and Business, Charley had her heart set on a career in accounting from an early age.
Her career at Harold Sharp started at a time where most businesses were passing paper records – a completely different landscape to the one we operate in today.
As someone who’s grown, adapted and propelled in her career, what are some of the key lessons that she’s learned along the way?
Adapt at every stage
“I will never forget the feeling of exhilaration I experienced when I first became qualified. I had this realisation that I was equipped with all of the same technical skills as one of the Partners and that was really empowering. From there on out it became about building my experience”.
As Charley reflects on her career milestones, she stresses the importance of adapting and developing – not just to achieve promotion, but also to fulfil it.
With every new role, Charley took on a new challenge. She credits her experience of completing seats in different departments for teaching her to think more critically; for people management roles that taught her the importance of clear communication; and for senior manager positions that pushed her to work on networking and forging relationships.
She also shares that the biggest mindset shift came when she was appointed Director. “Almost overnight you switch from being a qualified accountant to being a business owner. Very quickly you realise the gravity of being responsible for the business, for all the team members, for the full client base and for future growth. It’s been a massive learning curve. It’s all encompassing but it’s also hugely fulfilling.”
Resilience is key
Resilience has been a cornerstone of Charley’s career and she emphasises the importance of embracing mistakes as learning opportunities.
“It’s crucial to own your mistakes from day one. Don’t be shy about it – raise your hand and ask for help when you need it” she says. “Better still,” she adds “if you’re approaching your Manager with a problem, try to put forward a suggested solution at the same time. Challenging yourself in that way will help you to really test your technical skills”.
Charley also highlights that, as you progress, you will become more accountable for your own mistakes but also for those of others. That’s why she believes that developing resilience is such a key skill.
“If you can walk away from a day in the office and digest what didn’t go quite right, you can start to build on those experiences and use those lessons to aid your progression.”
Your soft skills are essential
While technical skills are vital early in your career, Charley highlights the increasing importance of soft skills as you climb the ladder.
“Your technical expertise will set you apart until you qualify. After that, if you really want progression, you need to start looking at where you can add to your skill base – whether that’s collaborating with other departments to challenge your way of thinking or pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone in a BD capacity.”
Charley is the first to admit that, as someone who loved having her head in her accounting books for so many years, not all of these softer skills came naturally. “People management, communication, networking – these are not skills that they teach you as part of your ACA/ACCA. If you want to be at the top table, you’ve got to push yourself to develop in non-technical areas”.
Enjoy the journey
To end, Charley reminds us to savour the journey and celebrate successes along the way. “Being on the Board isn’t for everyone – it can be all-consuming. Regardless of your career aspirations, make sure to enjoy the milestones,” she advises.
Some of Charley’s most memorable career moments include qualifying as an accountant, her appointment as Director, and witnessing the successes and growth of her team members and clients.
“I enjoy seeing our people grow, develop, win – I find that really rewarding. Utilising that talent to the benefit of our clients – helping them to grow, develop, win – that’s why I’m here and that’s what I love most about my job.”
Charlotte Hinchcliffe
T: 0161 905 1616
E: cah@haroldsharp.co.uk
Each quarter our Trainee Working Group sit with a member of the team for 30 minutes of Q&A to find out about their path to progression, what made them choose accounting and why they stuck it out. Stay tuned on the Careers Hub for more stories like Charley’s.