Blogs & Insights | Team News

Achieve Professionals May 2026 Newsletter

May at Achieve Professionals

May has been an exciting month for Achieve Professionals, with continued growth across our specialist divisions and international markets.

We were delighted to see our Senior Legal Recruitment Consultant, Sophie-Jo Grier, featured in the latest edition of Tees Business Magazine, recognising her unique journey from Legal Secretary to qualified Solicitor and now specialist legal recruiter.

At the same time, our Family Office and Financial Services Consultant, Andrew Bell, has continued supporting international family offices and private clients across the UK, Japan, the Channel Islands and other key global financial centres, reflecting the increasing international demand within the sector.

As our agency continues to grow, we are also expanding our own team and are currently seeking an experienced Finance Recruitment Consultant to join Achieve Professionals.

In this month’s newsletter, we also share the latest hiring trends, recruitment insights and market updates across the family office, legal, finance and professional services sectors.

Tees Business Feature on Sophie Jo Grier

Tees Business Magazine Feature Summer 2026

We’re pleased to share that our Senior Legal Recruitment Consultant, Sophie-Jo Grier, has been featured in the latest edition of Tees Business Magazine.

Sophie-Jo’s career path sets her apart within the legal recruitment sector. After beginning her career as a Legal Secretary, she went on to train and qualify as a Solicitor, completing her Master’s in Law at Northumbria University along the way.

Her first-hand experience within the legal profession gives her a genuine understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by both candidates and law firms. This insight allows her to build strong, trusted relationships and deliver a tailored approach to legal recruitment.

You can read Sophie-Jo’s full feature in Tees Business here.

Join Our Recruitment Team – Finance Recruitment Consultant

As Achieve Professionals continues to grow, we are expanding our Finance & Accountancy division and are currently seeking an experienced Finance Recruitment Consultant to join our team.

This opportunity is open at Senior, Principal or Managing Consultant level and offers the chance to work within an established and growing client base, partnering with accountancy firms, SMEs and larger organisations across both practice and industry finance recruitment.

The role can be based remotely anywhere in the UK, hybrid, or from our Teesside office.

We are looking for a commercially driven recruitment professional with strong business development experience, a consultative approach and a genuine passion for building long-term relationships. Previous experience within finance or accountancy recruitment would be highly advantageous.

At Achieve Professionals, we offer a supportive and rewarding environment designed to encourage both personal and professional growth. Our team benefits from a competitive uncapped commission and bonus structure, clear progression opportunities and an annual professional development budget of up to £1,000. We also provide:

Equal parental leave
A paid birthday off
33 days holiday inclusive of Bank Holidays
Early access to wages
Flexibility to work from anywhere in the world for one month each year

Alongside this, employees enjoy team success trips, monthly competitions, complimentary office refreshments and free on-site parking for office-based staff.

You can apply for this role here.

Blogs Published in May

We have continued to share a range of blogs, this month focusing on the legal sector, offering insight into recent market trends, hiring challenges and best practices.

Industry Insights

Family Office Market Insights

Growing Demand for Operational and Governance Talent – Family offices are increasingly strengthening their internal infrastructure, with greater focus on governance, operational oversight and long-term succession planning. We are seeing rising demand for experienced COOs, Chiefs of Staff and operational finance professionals who can bring structure, accountability and strategic support to evolving family office environments.
Discretion and Relationship Management Remain Key Hiring Drivers- While technical expertise remains essential, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence continue to play a major role in successful family office hiring. UHNW principals are placing significant value on professionals who can build trust, navigate complex family dynamics and operate with complete discretion across both business and personal matters.
International Hiring Activity Continues to Increase- Cross-border recruitment remains highly active within the family office market, particularly across London, Dubai, Singapore, Switzerland and the Cayman Islands. Many offices are broadening their talent searches internationally to secure niche expertise in investments, governance, legal and private wealth management.

Legal and Finance & Accountancy Market Insights

Law Firms Increasingly Prioritising Experienced Hires- The legal recruitment market continues to favour experienced lateral hires, with firms focusing on professionals who can deliver immediate commercial value and client impact. Rather than expanding junior intake significantly, many firms are investing in qualified lawyers and senior specialists with proven technical and business development capabilities.
Selective Hiring Across Finance Functions- Finance hiring remains active throughout 2026, although businesses are approaching recruitment more strategically. Organisations are prioritising hires that directly support growth, operational efficiency and commercial decision-making, particularly within FP&A, commercial finance and transformation-focused roles.
Interim and Contract Recruitment Continues to Rise- Market uncertainty has led many businesses to increase their use of interim and contract professionals, particularly within finance transformation, compliance and reporting functions. Employers are seeking flexible hiring solutions while maintaining access to experienced talent capable of delivering immediate impact.