At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive operational excellence and support growth initiatives across multiple offices.
- Company: Rapidly growing professional services firm with a strong regional presence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and an executive benefits package.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant impact and career advancement in a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Lead a dynamic team and shape the future of a thriving organisation.
- Qualifications: Senior operational leadership experience in professional services required.
The predicted salary is between 125000 - 150000 € per year.
Overview
Chief Operating Officer (COO) – SMH Group
Location: Yorkshire (regional role) | Salary: £125,000 – £150,000 + bonus + benefits
The Opportunity
SMH Group is a rapidly growing regional professional services firm providing accountancy, audit, tax, financial planning, corporate finance and advisory services across Yorkshire and Derbyshire. The group has grown significantly through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions of established local accountancy practices since 2018. With offices across Sheffield, Leeds, Harrogate, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Chesterfield and surrounding areas, the firm has built a strong regional footprint while maintaining local client relationships and expertise. SMH has secured strategic investment from Phoenix Equity Partners, supporting the group’s ambitious growth strategy and continued expansion through acquisition and organic growth. As the business continues to scale, SMH is seeking a Group Chief Operating Officer to drive operational excellence, support partner performance, and ensure consistency across the group’s growing network of offices. This is a highly visible leadership role reporting to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, responsible for aligning operational performance, supporting growth initiatives, and embedding a unified culture across the firm. The role will be Yorkshire-based, with regular travel expected across group offices.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver consistent operational performance & optimisation
- Improve productivity, utilisation and recoveries across the firm while maintaining high service quality.
- Ensure operational capacity aligns with new business pipeline and client demand.
- Monitor the firm’s new business engine to support organic growth.
- Support partners and directors with improved operational reporting and performance insight.
- Standardise operational processes across the group, including: Accounts, Tax, Audit, Payroll, Client onboarding, Client query management.
- Drive operational automation and process improvement initiatives.
- Deliver against Group budget
- Work closely with partners to ensure site-by-site delivery against revenue and profitability targets.
- Monitor fee earner utilisation, recovery rates and cost management across offices.
- Establish a structured cadence of on-site visits and operational reviews with partners and office leaders.
- Support local leadership teams in implementing corrective actions where performance improvement is required.
- Ensure operational discipline and accountability across the group.
- Embed group culture & collaboration
- Ensure newly acquired firms successfully adopt SMH Group values, behaviours and service principles.
- Work alongside the Executive Leadership Team to deliver effective change management during periods of growth.
- Reduce “them and us” dynamics between legacy firms and newly integrated practices.
- Build a “one firm” mindset across all offices.
- Promote collaboration and encourage cross-selling of services across the group.
- Support the Executive Leadership Team, Board & Shareholders
- Act as a positive and visible leader across the business.
- Support and reinforce leadership decisions throughout the organisation.
- Provide operational support to partners, directors and senior stakeholders.
- Lead discussions and communications with a coaching and mentoring approach to develop stronger leaders across the firm.
- Contribute to strategic planning and support the continued growth of the group.
Candidate Profile
Essential Experience
- Senior operational leadership experience within a professional services organisation operating a time-billing / fee-earner model (e.g. accountancy, legal, consulting, advisory, engineering consultancy).
- Deep understanding of fee earner economics, including: Utilisation, Recovery rates, Charge-out rates, Work in progress (WIP) management, Billing cycles.
- Experience improving operational performance across multiple offices or regions.
- Proven ability to implement standardised processes and operational reporting frameworks.
- Experience supporting partner-led organisations and working closely with senior fee earners.
- Strong commercial mindset with the ability to connect operational performance to revenue and profitability.
Desirable Experience
- Experience within accountancy or audit firms.
- Experience supporting practice integrations or acquisitions.
- Exposure to practice management systems and billing platforms.
- Experience operating at COO, Operations Director, or Regional Managing Director level within a professional services firm.
Leadership & Personal Attributes
- Credible and collaborative operator able to work effectively with partners and senior professionals.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Pragmatic and hands-on approach to operational improvement.
- Strong communicator capable of aligning teams across multiple offices.
- Passion for building high-performing teams and a collaborative culture.
Location & Travel
The role is Yorkshire-based, with flexibility on office base. Regular travel will be required across the firm’s regional office network.
Package
Salary: £125,000 – £150,000 Bonus: Performance related Benefits: Executive package commensurate with senior leadership role
COO - Sheffield England employer: Phipps Cameron Recruitment
SMH Group is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and operational excellence across its regional offices in Yorkshire. With a strong commitment to employee growth, the firm provides ample opportunities for professional development and leadership training, ensuring that every team member can thrive in their career. The supportive culture, combined with competitive compensation and benefits, makes SMH Group an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the professional services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land COO - Sheffield England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join local business groups, or even hit up LinkedIn to find connections at SMH Group. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that COO role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research SMH Group inside out – know their values, recent news, and their growth strategy. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can drive operational excellence across their offices.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share examples of how you've built high-performing teams and fostered collaboration. SMH Group is looking for someone who can embed a unified culture, so make sure to highlight your experience in this area.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the SMH Group family. Let’s get you that COO position!
We think you need these skills to ace COO - Sheffield England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of COO. Highlight your senior operational leadership experience and any relevant achievements in professional services. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for SMH Group. Share your passion for operational excellence and how you can contribute to our growth strategy.
Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, let us know about your leadership approach. We value collaboration and a hands-on attitude, so share examples of how you've built high-performing teams and fostered a unified culture.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Phipps Cameron Recruitment
✨Know Your Numbers
As a COO, you'll need to demonstrate a deep understanding of fee earner economics. Brush up on key metrics like utilisation rates, recovery rates, and billing cycles. Be ready to discuss how you've improved these metrics in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong stakeholder management and collaboration. Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style, particularly how you've fostered a 'one firm' mindset and built high-performing teams across multiple offices.
✨Be Ready for Change Management Questions
With SMH Group's focus on integrating newly acquired firms, expect questions about change management. Share your experiences in leading successful transitions and how you’ve managed to align diverse teams under a unified culture.
✨Demonstrate Operational Excellence
The interviewers will want to see your track record in driving operational performance. Prepare to discuss specific initiatives you've led that resulted in improved productivity and service quality, especially in a professional services context.
