By Christian Furness, published 27 November 2025
The 2025 Budget offered few surprises, but the reality for businesses is challenging. With the UK’s tax burden at a record high, companies are already grappling with £40bn in scheduled tax rises, and this has been compounded by an additional £26bn. In this environment, some of our clients have admitted that hiring and retaining skilled staff has never been harder. Our consultants anticipate that the strong recruitment partnerships they maintain and develop will prove worth their weight in gold as accounting, audit, and tax professionals become increasingly scarce.
Rising Costs, Fewer Incentives
Accounting professionals in small and mid-sized firms, particularly in manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and leisure, have already reported facing higher payroll costs from National Minimum Wage increases and added NI on salary-sacrificed pensions. But even with AI and automation maximised, there comes a point when the right human hire is essential. Over the past year, many businesses have found that recruitment partnering with Sheridan Maine made the difference between filling critical roles efficiently or losing ground to competitors, and this trend looks set to continue.
Delayed Tax Rises and Limited Relief
Even postponed tax hikes weigh heavily on hiring plans, prompting recruitment freezes, scaled-back roles, or in some cases, reliance on temporary staff. Business rates adjustments provide modest relief but do little to offset rising costs. Skilled finance and tax professionals are harder to secure than ever, making trusted recruitment relationships vital for navigating a tight labour market.
Motivation and Team Energy
Frozen income tax thresholds and higher dividend and savings taxes reduce disposable income and dampen team motivation. Gavin Warner, Managing Director at Sheridan Maine, notes, “In this environment, bringing in high-quality accounting, audit, and tax staff can do more than fill gaps - they can inject fresh energy, new ideas, and enthusiasm into flagging teams.” Hiring the right accounting and tax talent remains critical for growth, and specialist recruitment partnerships are increasingly essential to secure the skills that keep operations running and expansion on track.
The Bottom Line
UK businesses face record-high taxes, rising employment costs, and frozen thresholds, making hiring more expensive and less appealing. Many firms may cut recruitment, delay expansion, or lean on automation. Yet when the right human hire is crucial, strong recruitment partnerships are invaluable, helping businesses secure the accounting, audit, and tax professionals they need to thrive in a challenging environment.
