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Achieve Professionals January 2026 Newsletter

January News

This month has been a busy and exciting one, with some great new roles landing across the business. Weโ€™ve also had some really positive conversations within the Family Office space as the market continues to evolve.

Youโ€™ll also find Eveโ€™s latest updates on audit professionals and how the practices we work with offer a great work-life balance, alongside our usual round-up of industry insights and market trends.

And finally, weโ€™re delighted to share the relaunch of our brand new website – a big milestone and an exciting step forward for Achieve Professionals.

Let’s dive in.


New website

Weโ€™re delighted to launch our upgraded website.

Designed to better reflect how we work, the new site offers an enhanced experience with updated branding, improved navigation, and new features to make it even easier to explore our services and latest opportunities.

A huge thank you to Halt. for working with us on this project, itโ€™s been a pleasure collaborating with you.

Please take a look and let us know what you think, weโ€™d love to hear your feedback.

๐Ÿ‘‰ achieveprofessionals.com

Family Office Spotlight

The family office and private household market has remained busy, with hiring needs becoming increasingly varied as households look to strengthen support across both lifestyle and operational functions. Weโ€™re seeing a real focus on building the right structure around principals and families, with roles that support day-to-day life, enhance service standards, and create a smoother, more organised household environment.

In fact, just this month alone weโ€™ve taken on positions including a Health & Wellness Consultant, Concierge, and Live-out Housekeeper. These searches highlight the breadth of requirements weโ€™re currently seeing, and the increasing demand for experienced, discreet professionals who can integrate seamlessly and deliver consistently high standards.

If youโ€™re interested in discussing how we can support recruitment for your private household or family office, please contact principal consultant, Andrew Bell directly.

Audit Professionals – work / life balance

Weโ€™re continuing to see a clear trend in the audit market: more professionals are prioritising work-life balance, wellbeing and long-term sustainability in their careers. After several intense years across the profession, many people are understandably questioning whether practice is still the right fit, and weโ€™re having more conversations with candidates who are considering leaving practice altogether.

However, the reality is that not all practices are the same. While some environments can feel demanding and rigid, there are also many firms that are genuinely focused on culture, flexibility and employee wellbeing, and are working hard to retain and support their teams.

For audit professionals who enjoy the work but want a better lifestyle, the answer isnโ€™t always to leave, it can be about finding a practice that offers a healthier structure, realistic workloads, supportive leadership and the flexibility needed to thrive both professionally and personally.

At Achieve Professionals, we work closely with practices that take a people-first approach. If youโ€™re feeling unsure about your next step, weโ€™re always happy to have a confidential conversation and help you explore whatโ€™s available, without compromising on your wellbeing.

Eve’s Hedgehog Rescue

On a personal note, Eve had a very special moment this month after rescuing a poorly little hedgehog she found frozen in the snow. She brought him in, gave him food and a warm, safe place to recover, before someone from a local wildlife sanctuary collected him for further care.

Now named Wilf, heโ€™s made a fantastic recovery, and itโ€™s all thanks to Eveโ€™s quick thinking. ๐Ÿฆ”


Industry Highlights – Legal, Finance, HR & Private Family Office

Legal

  • January has started strongly, with steady demand for midโ€“senior legal hires as firms move into Q1 growth plans and backfills.
  • Weโ€™re seeing increased candidate movement, often driven by workload, progression opportunities, and the search for stronger culture and flexibility.
  • Employers continue to prioritise commercial awareness, client confidence and strong communication skills alongside technical ability.
  • Thereโ€™s also a noticeable focus on hiring professionals who can manage multiple stakeholders, work autonomously, and contribute to wider business goals, not just fee-earning output.

HR

  • HR hiring remains active, with organisations looking for professionals who can deliver real commercial impact and support long-term people strategy.
  • Demand is particularly strong for candidates with ER expertise and confident generalist experience, especially where businesses are managing change, performance, and workforce planning.
  • Weโ€™re seeing more emphasis on employee engagement, retention and culture, with employers wanting HR professionals who can influence leadership teams and drive positive change.
  • Candidates are also increasingly selective, seeking roles that offer supportive leadership, clear scope, and realistic workloads, not just a job title.

Finance

  • Demand remains consistent for audit and accounting professionals, with many teams using January to kick-start hiring plans for the year ahead.
  • Weโ€™re seeing more candidates prioritising work-life balance, flexibility and long-term career development, not just salary.
  • Employers are increasingly looking for finance professionals who combine technical strength with stakeholder management, a proactive mindset and commercial awareness.
  • Hiring conversations are also leaning more towards long-term retention, meaning firms that can offer development, progression and a positive culture are standing out.

Family Office

  • The family office market has started the year with continued momentum across both single and multi-family offices, with many building stronger long-term structures and support functions.
  • Weโ€™re seeing a broad mix of hiring needs, from core professional services roles through to operational and specialist support positions.
  • Thereโ€™s a clear focus on hiring individuals who bring discretion, trust and adaptability, with many roles requiring candidates to work across varied responsibilities.
  • Clients are also placing increased value on long-term fit and stability, with hiring decisions often made carefully to protect continuity, privacy, and reputation.

Thanks for reading, weโ€™ll be back with more next month.

Your professional partners, Achieve.

www.achieveprofessionals.com | hello@achieveprofessionals.com

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