Head of Talent and Development – Leading Professional Services Firm

Location: Flexible/Hybrid Working
Salary: Competitive, DOE

We are incredibly proud to partner with one of the UK’s leading professional services firms to recruit a Head of Talent and Development on a permanent basis. Reporting directly to the CHRO, this pivotal role is responsible for driving the firm’s training and development strategy across all levels, ensuring the business remains at the forefront of innovation in people development.

This is a critical role for the business as they look to deliver on their strategic plan over the next three years, offering full autonomy and trust to a passionate and experienced leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership: Lead, upskill, and develop the training and development team, ensuring high-touch service and operational efficiency.
• Programme Development: Oversee and enhance established training sessions, designing and occasionally delivering bespoke in-person and online sessions across the firm.
• Career Progression: Manage career progression frameworks, leading on talent mapping and succession planning while ensuring the right infrastructure supports these initiatives.
• Collaboration with HR: Work closely with HR Business Partners to facilitate promotions, identify skills gaps, and implement specialist solutions to address them.
• Evaluation and Innovation: Continually assess and develop the firm’s L&D offering, introducing innovative and impactful solutions aligned with business needs.
• D&I and CSR Champion: Actively contribute to committees focused on diversity, inclusion, and corporate social responsibility, ensuring these remain central to the firm’s values.
• Industry Expertise: Have a deep understanding of training programmes and recognised qualifications within the accountancy sector (e.g., ACCA, ACA, CTA, AAT, ATT).
• Stakeholder Reporting: Report to Partners on the ROI of training programmes and maximise the efficiency of the L&D budget.

Person Specification

• Proven experience operating at Manager or Head of Level within Learning & Development or Talent Development.
• Demonstrable experience in managing teams and implementing impactful organisational change.
• A strong understanding of the accountancy sector, including recognised qualifications and industry-specific training requirements.
• Passionate about people development and driving innovation in talent management.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• A strategic mindset with a hands-on approach when required.

Why Apply?

This is an exceptional opportunity for an L&D professional to take their career to the next level in a role that offers:

• Autonomy: Full ownership of the L&D function from day one.
• Impact: The chance to be the driving force behind a leading firm’s talent and development strategy.
• Innovation: A platform to introduce and implement cutting-edge people development solutions.
• Collaboration: Work closely with senior stakeholders to align talent development initiatives with business objectives.
• Recognition: Join a firm that values and invests in its people, with a genuine commitment to diversity, inclusion, and corporate responsibility.

Lily Shippen’s HR team are experts in recruiting top human resources talent, including specialists in Learning and Development, Talent Management, Employee Relations, Diversity & Inclusion, and HR Operations.

We work with clients across the UK in locations including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, and Sheffield, as well as internationally and remotely. Whether you’re seeking permanent, temporary, or fixed-term contracts, we’re here to help you find the perfect fit.