Group Talent Acquisition Specialist / Advisor

Shaw Gibbs is a growing top 35 accountancy practice that provides expert solutions for entrepreneurial businesses and private individuals in Central and Southern England. Shaw Gibbs invests in their teams of high‑quality specialists who work with the best‑in‑breed technology to create value for clients that exceeds expectation. Our culture is very important to us and is based on our company values of expert, respectful, innovative and collaborative. We develop high performing teams diverse in experiences, backgrounds and ideas. As a growing company, there are plenty of opportunities for development and quick progression. Our practice is known for having a friendly and supportive team culture where everyone receives training and development to increase their technical knowledge and their commercial and management skills. We put our people first and are constantly looking for ways to improve our people experience. With respectful as one of our values, we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that respects, values and celebrates cultural and individual differences. We have several offices in Central and Southern England and have ambitious plans to expand our business.

To support the organisation’s ongoing growth, we have created a new opportunity for a Group Talent Acquisition Specialist / Advisor to join our People & Culture team. This is a permanent full‑time role with hybrid and flexible working options. While you will be based in either our Oxford or Reading office, the role will require ad‑hoc travel across all Shaw Gibbs Group offices.

The Role

• Reporting to the Group Talent Acquisition Manager, your role will be to own and manage the end‑to‑end recruitment process for a wide variety of mid‑level vacancies across the Audit, Accounts, Tax, Outsourcing, and Corporate Functions service lines.

Your key responsibilities include:

• End‑to‑end Recruitment Delivery – Manage the full recruitment lifecycle for part‑qualified, newly qualified, and mid‑level corporate functions roles. Collaborate with hiring managers & partners to define role requirements, create job specs, and advise on suitable hiring strategies. Screen, shortlist, and interview candidates, ensuring that all applicants receive an efficient, professional, and inclusive experience, regardless of their application outcome.
• Candidate Sourcing – Leverage a variety of sourcing methods including LinkedIn Recruiter, specialist job boards, referrals, internal mobility, networking opportunities & recruitment agencies. Manage relationships with recruitment agencies, negotiating competitive rates, ensuring adherence to terms, and monitoring agency performance.
• Stakeholder & Hiring Manager Support – Act as a trusted advisor to partners, directors, and hiring managers across the Group. Support with the integration of newly acquired businesses into the Shaw Gibbs Group, ensuring a consistent and standardised firm‑wide recruitment process. Provide market insights, salary benchmarking, and best practice guidance to hiring managers & partners.
• Recruitment Operations & Process Improvement – Become an expert in our Applicant Tracking System (ATS), HiBob. Maintain accurate and timely data within the ATS. Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve consistency across offices.
• Compliance, Governance & DEI – Ensure all recruitment processes comply with employment law, GDPR, and internal audit requirements. Promote inclusive hiring practices and support DEI initiatives across the Group.
• Collaboration & Onboarding – Work closely with other departments across the Shaw Gibbs Group, including HR, L&D, IT, Marketing & Internal Finance. Ensure the smooth onboarding of new starters by supporting the offer process, including the creation of formal offer paperwork, pre‑employment right‑to‑work and reference checks, and onboarding communications.

What We Can Offer You

• Hybrid working after successful completion of your probationary period (three days in the office and two days at home)
• Flexible working (flexing your hours around the core working hours of 10am to 4pm)
• Joining a fast‑growing company with exciting growth plans ahead
• Exposure to a broad range of stakeholders
• Plenty of opportunity to increase your technical knowledge and skills
• A varied role within a talented and experienced team
• ERIC internal recognition awards – monthly recognition awards that celebrate those who champion the Shaw Gibbs values
• Long service awards
• Regular employee events including a company‑wide summer party
• A competitive benefits package, including:

• A 25‑day core holiday allowance plus other holiday‑related benefits, such as Holiday trading (the ability to buy or sell up to 5 days holiday per year), flexible bank holidays (the ability to flex your bank holidays to a day that suits you best) and additional holiday with service
• A dedicated “Wellbeing Day” – an additional day off per year to focus on your wellbeing
• Employee Assistant Programme (EAP) which includes access to 24/7 online GP consultations, 2nd medical opinions and mental health first aiders present in every office
• Access to MYNDUP – a wellbeing support platform which offers confidential 1-to-1 sessions with therapists, counsellors, psychologists, and coaches.
• Shaw Gibbs Rewards – access to discounts on a wide range of retailers
• Health Cash Plan – money back on routine health appointments
• Electric Vehicles Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Client and employee referral bonuses
• Pension Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Death in Service Life Assurance
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Bus pass discounts and loans
• Cycle to Work Scheme

About You

• 2+ years’ experience in professional services talent acquisition, ideally within an in‑house talent acquisition team. If you are coming from an agency background, you should have experience specifically within the accounting industry.
• Confidence managing a wide range of mid‑level and senior vacancies, from initial sourcing through to a formal offer.
• A university degree with a 2:1 or above is desirable, but not essential.
• A relevant qualification (CIPD Level 3/5, CertIHR) would be beneficial but is not essential.
• Previous experience using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), ideally HiBob.
• Previous experience using job boards such as LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed for Employers, ICAEW & ACCA to facilitate direct hiring.
• Capable of managing a high volume of vacancies across multiple locations whilst maintaining accuracy under pressure.
• The ability to adapt your approach and communication style to suit a variety of office environments and stakeholders from a diverse background.
• Proficient in a wide variety of IT packages, particularly the Microsoft 365 suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook & Teams) & Canva, and the ability to pick up new IT packages quickly.
• Familiar with how AI tools such as ChatGPT, CoPilot & Metaview can be used to increase the efficiency of the recruitment process.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify mistakes and errors even when under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders at any time.
• Adaptable and able to juggle and prioritise many competing responsibilities.
• A full UK driving licence to accommodate ad‑hoc travel across the Shaw Gibbs Group.

Diversity, equality and inclusion

Shaw Gibbs is an inclusive employer, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates by ensuring a comfortable and accessible interview experience. We understand that some individuals may have specific needs or require accommodation/adjustments during the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to ensure your recruitment experience with Shaw Gibbs is as inclusive and accessible as possible, please let us know at your earliest convenience via the application form or via an email to recruitment@shawgibbs.com. We believe that diversity makes Shaw Gibbs a stronger firm and we look to employ people with different ideas, styles and skillsets. This diversity stimulates a rich, creative environment – one in which our people develop, and our clients enjoy enduring results. We’re committed to recruiting, promoting and rewarding our people solely based on their ability to contribute to Shaw Gibbs’ goals, without regard to their sex, gender, race, disability, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or marital status.

Right to work

Unfortunately, for this role we are unable to offer sponsorship for visas/work permits, so you will need to have full right to work in the UK. Your application will be automatically rejected if you do not have full right to work.