SRLV Appoints First HR Partner as People Strategy Moves to the Centre of Business Growth
- 4 Min Read
Top 50+50 accountancy firm SRLV has appointed Nicola O’Shea FCIPD as its first HR Partner, recognising the increasingly strategic role of HR in driving business growth, leadership development and talent strategy. The appointment follows a 77% increase in headcount over the past three years and reflects a broader shift towards embedding people leadership at the highest levels of professional services firms.
- Author: HRD Connect
- Date published: Jul 7, 2026
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Professional services firms have long recognised that talent is their greatest asset, yet relatively few have reflected that priority at partnership level.
Top 50+50 accountancy firm SRLV is seeking to change that with the appointment of Nicola O’Shea FCIPD as its first HR Partner, a move that signals the growing strategic importance of people leadership as firms compete for talent and prepare for continued growth.
O’Shea, who joined SRLV as HR Director in 2023, will become one of the firm’s 20 partners as it continues to expand its 300-strong workforce and develop the next generation of leaders.
The appointment comes as professional services firms face increasing competition for skilled talent, with people strategy becoming a key differentiator alongside client service and commercial performance.
Elevating HR to the partnership table
Appointments of HR professionals to partnership remain relatively uncommon within professional services, where partnership has traditionally been reserved for fee-earning disciplines.
SRLV’s decision reflects a broader shift in how organisations are positioning HR, recognising that workforce strategy, leadership development and organisational culture are becoming central to long-term business performance.
Since joining the firm, O’Shea has led a significant expansion of the workforce, helping increase employee numbers by 77% over the past three years. Alongside recruitment, she has introduced new HR policies, launched a partner mentoring programme for senior managers and directors, and expanded the firm’s graduate and internship programmes.
Prior to joining SRLV, O’Shea held senior HR leadership positions at Bindmans LLP and international consultancy Kaiser Associates, bringing more than 30 years of experience across professional services.
Investing in future leadership
SRLV says the appointment forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen leadership capability as the business continues to grow.
The firm appointed three new partners during 2025 and plans to expand its 20-strong partnership further over the coming years.
Executive Chairman Marc Voulters said the appointment reflects the firm’s commitment to placing people at the centre of its growth strategy.
“I’m delighted to welcome Nicola as our first HR Partner. It is a significant appointment and reflects the vital role she plays in developing staff at all levels and our next generation of partners.”
He added:
“Our staff are our most valuable asset, so we believe it should follow that we have a partner dedicated to their wellbeing and development.”
The appointment reflects a growing recognition that leadership pipelines require deliberate investment rather than relying solely on technical expertise or tenure.
People strategy is becoming a competitive advantage
O’Shea believes the promotion also reflects the changing role of HR within professional services.
“Appointments of HR professionals to partner are rare in professional services, so it’s testament to the firm and the value it places on people and relationships.”
She said the firm’s continued expansion would remain closely linked to investment in its people.
“Whilst my team and I are striving to make the firm an even better place to work, this isn’t through wholesale change. Building on SRLV’s strong culture of support to create an environment for our people to deliver their best work will always be at the heart of what we do.”
Looking ahead, O’Shea said the firm expects to increase headcount by a further 15% over the next year while continuing to strengthen leadership development through mentoring, personalised learning and structured career progression.
A broader shift across professional services
SRLV’s appointment comes as organisations across professional services place increasing emphasis on leadership development, succession planning and employee experience.
According to LinkedIn’s 2025 Workplace Learning Report, leadership and management development remains one of the highest investment priorities for employers, with organisations increasingly focusing on internal mobility and building future leadership capability. Similarly, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Human Capital Trends report found that organisations are placing greater emphasis on developing human capabilities that drive long-term resilience, innovation and business performance.
Against this backdrop, appointing HR leaders to senior strategic positions reflects a broader evolution in how organisations view people strategy.
Rather than serving purely as an operational function, HR is increasingly influencing business growth, leadership succession and organisational performance.
For professional services firms competing for highly skilled talent, embedding people expertise within the partnership may become less of an exception and more of a strategic advantage.
