Are you an accountant ready to resign from your current role in practice?
Hopefully you’ve found your way to this page as you made the excellent decision to work with Public Practice Recruitment Ltd and we’ve helped you to secure a brand new job!
But, even if that’s not the case, if professional congratulations are in order we have some great news to share with you.
Writing a resignation letter does not have to be complicated! In fact it’s likely the most simple part of the process of changing jobs. But it is something that you should take the time to get right, as setting the wrong tone could make your notice period challenging and impact the reference you leave with.
So, before you put pen to paper, take a moment to consider the impact your resignation is likely to have on your employer. If the news is likely to be a big shock, or you consider yourself to be an essential cog in the wheel that your existing employer won’t give up without a fight, make sure you’re crystal clear about what you want from your future so that you’re not easily influenced to steer away from what’s right for you.
If you anticipate that your employer will put together a counteroffer, we’ve written a useful article to help you decide if that’s something you might accept or if this offer is too little too late.
Take a read here – Counteroffers – Should I stay or should I go?
When you’re feeling clear on your position, it’s time to put pen to paper. Your resignation letter can be typed or handwritten and should include a few integral parts.
- The date that you submit it – this is really important as it will be the date from which the clock starts ticking on your notice period.
- The detail of the resignation itself. Here you can give as much or as little information as you want to about the position you’re leaving for. Also calculate and clearly state the last day you will work for your employer considering your contractual notice period and any annual leave you wish to incorporate into it.
- A word of thanks and a commitment to a full handover. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your absolute professionalism when it comes to signing off and it should ensure that you leave with a glowing reference.
Is it really that simple? Yes it really is! Ideally take the time to offer your letter to your line manager in person and hold firm if they try and twist your arm to do what’s right for the company as opposed to what’s right for you!
To really take the effort out of writing your resignation letter in public practice, here’s a template that you can copy, paste and edit. YOU’RE WELCOME!
<Name>
<Address>
<Date you will tender your resignation>
Dear <Line Manager>,
I write to tend my resignation for the position of <your role> at <firm> with immediate effect.
<Optional detail about why you’re leaving.>
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your mentorship over the period of my tenure at <firm>. I’ve learned a lot and have very much enjoyed working as part of your team.
I will of course make every effort to ensure a complete handover to whoever you assign to pick up my workload and as per my contractual terms and conditions my last day of work will be <date>. (Optional – I have <number> of days annual leave untaken and would like to include these in my notice period/be paid for them.)
Yours sincerely,
<Your name and signature>
Handing in your notice can be stressful. If you work with our recruitment team you’ll be supported throughout the whole transition period and our consultants are always here to help you on your journey to a brighter future as an accountant in practice. Don’t be afraid to reach out to us for bespoke advice.
And if you’re keen to be in a position to tender your resignation but haven’t yet found your next professional step, here’s some recent job highlights that might spark your interest. There’s plenty more, at every level and in every part of the UK, over on our jobs board.
