Before I joined, people said Shorts wasn't anything like other firms. You're a bit wary until you join, but in the first few weeks, I realised that at 4.30 pm you can actually go home. Your whole work/life balance changes completely.

Daniel Thomas - Audit and Accounts Senior

We want every member of our team to feel supported, developed and happy. So, we provide

  • a blend of interesting and challenging work,
  • the time for everyone to contribute ideas,
  • time to concentrate on personal development, and
  • a healthy life balance, allowing flexibility for individual preferences.

Our team enjoys all the key benefits you expect from a progressive firm with much more besides, and we are proud of our relaxed and inclusive culture which stands out as different.  Yes – we understand that everyone makes similar claims, but we really do believe that it’s true.

We are providing a premium service for clients – but we make sure that this is without compromising our principles. We are an award-winning firm, but alongside awards recognising the work we do for our clients, we are also immensely proud to have been named Best Employer in Tax at the Tolley’s Taxation Awards 2022. So we know, that whilst we look after our clients well, we are also looking after our team; their welfare and development being equally as important.

Tolley's taxation award winner

Time to excel, grow and achieve

We provide our team with the time to complete their work, concentrate on personal success and live their lives.

Time to progress and develop your career

We are proud of our record of team development, having supported many individuals with their progression within the firm.

Focussing on your own personal development can sometimes be overlooked when you are busy and working to deadlines, and we are keen to make sure that doesn't happen.

So, we ensure that our team has the time to focus on their own development path, with procedures in place to help them achieve their aspirations.

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Time and space to enjoy our work

We don’t work to unrealistic timescales and never accept client work that we are unable to fulfil.

We manage employee levels to ensure that our team numbers remain 15% over capacity at all times, so nobody should ever feel overwhelmed or under undue pressure.

Consequently, our team have the appropriate time to focus on their work - time to think, time to analyse, and time to bounce off one another with ideas. This approach leads to improved job satisfaction and higher levels of client service.

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Time for life - flexible working & zero overtime

We do not expect any of our team to work more than their basic weekly hours, supported by our zero overtime policy. We consistently report less than one hour of overtime per employee per month – well below the industry standard. And it is our mission to reduce this even further - down to nil.

Our senior team lead by example to ensure everyone benefits from the commitment to a healthy life balance, both in and out of work. Hybrid working, core hours, and zero overtime policies put our team in charge of managing their time to suit them – both in and out of the office.

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Our values and culture

Respecting and listening to one another

Rob Brown is a best-selling author within the accounting sector, who is well-known within the industry for his Accounting Influencer's podcast.
Rob recently spoke in-depth with Managing Partner, Andy Irvine and explored the values at Shorts and why listening and providing our team with time, are such important parts of our culture.

Why we chose Shorts

When considering your next career move, what is it that makes a firm stand out and helps you to make those important decisions? Accounting podcaster, Rob Brown interviewed four members of our team (Alice Johnson, Stephen Allender, Martin Dean, and Helena Flatters) to find out why the culture at Shorts stands out as different and why they chose to work at Shorts?

What does the gift of time mean to you?

We asked a few of our team to explain what it means to them, to have the gift of additional time as a result of working at Shorts.

Everyone's circumstances are different, so the responses were all very personal and uniquely different.

Supporting our clients - living our lives

Team focus

Our recruitment program includes many just starting out on their career journey in accountancy.

Whether joining through our graduate program, as an apprentice, or studying for higher qualifications, all of our trainees are fully supported throughout their training journey and many of our students stay with us full-time after completing their studies.

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For many, completing professional qualifications is only the beginning of their journey, and understanding how to achieve a promotion or climb the career ladder is the natural next step.

So, our Management Development Program is designed specifically for those individuals wanting to understand, plan and navigate their route to promotion.

Through a program of structured courses, mentoring, and training we continue to support our team throughout their development journey.

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We look after our clients really well, but we also look after our team, because we know that their welfare and development are equally as important.

For everyone, personal time when we are not working is extremely valuable, and it is for that reason, that our zero overtime policy was created.  Fundamentally, we do not expect any of our team to work more than their basic weekly hours.

Although this practice is quite unique within the accounting industry, we are proud to consistently see average overtime at less than one hour per employee per month.

Hybrid working, core hours, and zero overtime policies mean that our team manage their time better – both in and out of the office.

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We don’t work to unrealistic timescales and never accept client work that we are unable to fulfil.

We manage our employee levels to ensure that our team is always around 15% over capacity at any time, meaning that they should never feel overwhelmed or under undue pressure.

Consequently, our team have the appropriate time to focus on their work – time to think, time to analyse, and time to bounce off one another with ideas. Not only does this lead to improved job satisfaction, but also results in higher levels of client service.

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Our team regularly takes part in local and national fundraising events and all team members have the opportunity to take part in one volunteering day each year.

There is an opportunity to get involved in

  • Sporting events, tournaments and challenges
  • Cake sales
  • Christmas events
  • Local charity collections

We work together, celebrate our successes together and always share our team news.

To find out more about what’s been happening recently, visit our LinkedIn page.

Visit our LinkedIn

Team News

Our recent Team News

Wincro Metal Industries Limited announces management buyout

Pictured (L/R): John Baddeley (Wake Smith), David Burgess (Virgin Money), David Robinson (Shorts), Lisa Wallis (Freeths), Adam Ames (Shorts), John Young (Wincro), Andy Ryder (Shorts)

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Basis Period Reform – What you need to know

Basis Period Reform is due to take effect from the tax year 2024/25 and aims to create a simpler set of rules for the allocation of trading income to tax years. However, transitional rules mean that these changes could impact businesses as early as April 2023.

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Tax Efficient Benefits for Employees

The area of providing benefits to employees can be a complex area of taxation, with some benefits being fully taxable, whilst others can be tax free. Due to the complexity of this legislation, advice is recommended before providing employees with benefits, as these could have adverse tax implications for them.

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More News

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The added benefits of working at Shorts

All the stuff you would normally expect from a really progressive firm and lots more besides:

  • Core hours policy (7.5 hours per day, working between 08:00 and 18:00).
  • The ability to take up to two hours for lunch.
  • Overtime (we hardly work any!) to be taken back as TOIL.
  • Holidays start at 25 days or pro-rata equivalent.
  • Extra 1 day holiday after 5 years’ service and thereafter to a maximum extra 5 days.
  • Ability to buy up to five days holiday or pro-rata equivalent.
  • Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave.
  • A fair and sympathetic sickness policy.
  • Access to Mental Health First Aiders with ongoing associated support.
  • Employee assistance program for counselling services, medical support, and perks through PAYCARE

The other bits

  • Flexible home working policy.
  • Structured external training and personal development.
  • Dress for your diary policy.
  • Death in service 2 x salary.
  • The opportunity to take one volunteering day per year.
  • Free parking in the Chesterfield office.
  • Christmas party and summer social.
  • Referral schemes for clients and recruitment.
  • Charity and other social events.
  • Free tea, coffee and biscuits (it’s important!)

Interested in finding out more?

We’re always open to talking to great people. If you feel that Shorts would be a great fit for your next career move, then why not send us your contact details; we’ll give you a call and maybe meet up to chat over coffee? (If you’d prefer to send us your CV, you can add that too)