Spotlight on new signatories

HaysMac, NHS Finance in England, and Price Bailey have recently joined Access Accountancy as signatories. They each explain below why social mobility is important to their organisation, why they joined Access Accountancy, what their plans are to become more socially inclusive, and the benefits they gain from joining the charity.

HaysMac

HaysMac is a mid-tier accountancy firm that combines scale with a personal touch. Specialists offer deep sector knowledge and valuable insights to help businesses thrive. As the firm has grown, they have retained their unique personality, where they make time for each other, at work and beyond.  

Social mobility is a personal and meaningful priority for many employees and Partners. Over the past year we’ve been shaping and evolving our DEI strategy and vision. Our approach places a strong emphasis on social mobility because we believe that background should never be a barrier for opportunity. The accountancy profession thrives when it reflects the diverse society we serve. By supporting social mobility, we’re not only opening doors for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds – we’re also enriching the future of accountancy with new perspectives, fresh talent, and greater innovation. 

We joined Access Accountancy because while we already proudly partner with the RISE initiative, we wanted to take our commitment to the next level by providing young people with more practical, hands-on opportunities to explore the accountancy profession.  

Joining Access Accountancy aligns perfectly with our goals – we want to inspire the next generation, especially those who might not otherwise have considered a career in this field or do not have the information on how to access the accountancy space. Through this partnership with Access Accountancy, we hope to offer meaningful experiences that build confidence, provide valuable insights, and help young people achieve their goals. We see this as an important step in driving long-term change and making the profession more inclusive. 

We’re taking a proactive approach to remove barriers and create more inclusive pathways into our profession. One of our core initiatives at HaysMac is to develop a structured work experience programme, with a standardised application process designed to reduce bias and ensure equal access for all. 

We’re planning to launch an insight into ‘Life at HaysMac’ through a dedicated event by inviting students from lower socio-economic backgrounds into our office. They will meet team members across all levels, including Partners, and hear their personal stories about how they entered the profession. A Q&A session and interactive workshops will give students real insight, encouragement, and spark inspiration. 

In addition, we have begun planning outreach to local sixth forms and colleges to run engaging sessions which will cover what it’s like to work in the accountancy profession, an introduction into HaysMac, the skills needed within the industry, and practical guidance on our recruitment processes and graduate assessment days. This will be a valuable networking event for both HaysMac staff and students. 

Our aim is simple – to break down the perceived barriers to entry and show young people that there is a place for them at HaysMac, and within the accountancy profession as a whole – no matter their background. 

By joining Access Accountancy, we’re excited to be part of a collective movement that’s driving real change in the profession. We hope to amplify the impact of our efforts, learn from other organisations, and continuously improve our own practices. Ultimately, we want to inspire and empower the future generation and through consistent, purposeful action, help shape a more diverse and inclusive future for the accountancy profession. We believe that small changes can lead to big outcomes, and we’re proud to contribute to this important vision. 

NHS Finance in England

Within NHS Finance in England, One NHS Finance was developed to bring together three national programmes in September 2021: Future-Focused Finance, the National Finance Academy, and the Finance Innovation Forum. Their main goal is to make sure that everyone working in NHS finance has access to the opportunities they need to develop their skills, excel in their roles, and accelerate their careers.

Improving social mobility means building a finance workforce that truly reflects the diverse communities it serves, which leads to better decision-making, more innovative thinking, and improved public trust.   

In the accountancy profession more broadly, fostering social mobility helps to break down barriers that may prevent talented individuals from entering or progressing in the field due to socio-economic disadvantage. It encourages a more meritocratic system, where progression is based on ability and potential, not background.  

NHS Finance in England joined the Access Accountancy programme to help drive greater diversity and inclusion within its finance teams, and to support young people from all backgrounds —particularly those from lower socio-economic groups — to access careers in accountancy and finance.   

By joining Access Accountancy, we aim to break down barriers to entry into the finance profession, offer meaningful work experience opportunities, and contribute to a more socially mobile and representative workforce. This aligns with the NHS’s core values of fairness and equality and helps ensure the finance function is built on talent, not background — strengthening both the service and the communities they serve.   

NHS Finance in England benefits from joining Access Accountancy through:    

• Access to a wider and more diverse talent pool, helping to bring fresh ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences into NHS finance teams.   
• Stronger connections with schools, colleges, and communities, allowing NHS organisations to reach and inspire young people who may not have considered a career in finance.   
• Support in delivering structured work experience programmes, with shared best practice, frameworks, and guidance that ensure placements are meaningful and impactful.   
• Increased visibility and reputation as an inclusive employer committed to social mobility and fairness, which strengthens public trust and attracts values-driven talent.   
• Alignment with national priorities, such as the NHS People Plan and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies, by actively working to remove barriers and create more equal opportunities in the profession. 
• The partnership helps NHS finance teams build a more inclusive, future-ready workforce while positively impacting the lives of young people and their communities. 

Price Bailey

Price Bailey is a well-established, independently owned accountancy firm with thirteen offices across the UK and internationally. We offer a wide range of services, including auditing, accounting, tax and corporate finance, with a strong focus on entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses that share our passion for innovation.

At Price Bailey, we recognise that social mobility plays a crucial role in building a firm that is fair and inclusive. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring that people from all backgrounds have equitable access to opportunities based on merit and not circumstance.  

A diverse workforce not only enhances our culture but also improves the quality of service we provide to our clients, many of which are entrepreneurial businesses that value innovation and fresh perspectives.  

The socio-economic divide continues to widen, and we are committed to playing our part in bridging this gap by creating opportunities for aspiring young accountants, regardless of their background.

We believe the most effective way to drive meaningful change is by collaborating with like-minded firms and learning from those who are further along in their journey. By doing so, we can accelerate our own impact and contribute more effectively.

We’re excited to amplify our reach through Access Accountancy and to participate in its working groups. These engagements will provide valuable insights that will enhance our understanding and help us build a more inclusive and informed approach.

We have already launched several initiatives to support applicants, such as reimbursing up to £50 in travel expenses for all attendees at assessment centres and introducing a virtual work experience programme through Springpod.

However, we recognise that more needs to be done to better understand the socio-economic backgrounds of our applicants. To address this, we plan to adopt a data-led approach. As a first step, we will begin collecting responses to the parental occupation question, which we see as a quick win. This will pave the way for the broader rollout of all social mobility-related questions as part of our application process.

The insights gained from this data will guide our next steps. In the meantime, we remain committed to expanding and improving our work experience offering to ensure it is as accessible as possible. Advertising these opportunities through Access Accountancy will support this goal, and we also intend to use the data to identify offices where social mobility can be enhanced. In those locations, we aim to develop targeted insight programmes, and to engage with carefully selected schools to strengthen our outreach efforts.

In terms of the benefits, we hope to gain as an Access Accountancy signatory, firstly, we want to make a difference and potentially inspire more young people to consider the accountancy profession as a career. Secondly, we want to learn and share knowledge with our peers so that we are constantly evolving and improving. Finally, we want to improve the diversity of our candidate pipeline and continue to embrace and welcome a varied population of people to the firm.

If these inspired you to find out more about Access Accountancy and how the initiative can help your organisation, please get in touch.