Steph Teale's journey to Associate Director in Yorkshire

We were delighted to announce the promotion of Stephanie Teale, to our new Associate Director heading up our Yorkshire team early this year at our annual company review, celebrated by all teams across the UK & Ireland. 

With 7 years in the business, Steph has become a key part of our Yorkshire team, known for her expertise in qualified finance recruitment and her genuine, relationship-driven approach. Her journey, passion for developing others, and commitment to delivering exceptional service all led to her well-deserved promotions. Steph tells us more about her journey...

Can you tell us a little bit about your career started with us? 

After spending four years across two stints in Australia, I reached a point where I knew I wanted to come back to Leeds and build something long-term. I wanted a business where I could settle, grow, and feel genuinely invested in the future. A friend who already worked at Marks Sattin encouraged me to explore the opportunity, and although I’d planned to speak to several companies, I ended up choosing Marks Sattin alone. What struck me was the authenticity - everything I was told during the process has been delivered, and more. The rest is history!

Can you tell us a bit about your priorities in your new role?

In this next chapter, my focus is on continuing to grow and strengthen the Leeds team while expanding our Interim offering across the North. I’m passionate about developing others, sharing knowledge, and helping create an environment where people can build long-term, successful careers - just as I’ve been able to do. I’ll also continue to grow our temporary and project solutions offering and host meaningful, value-led networking events for the finance community.

Since joining 7 years ago, I’ve become deeply embedded in our Yorkshire offering, specialising in qualified finance recruitment across Leeds, Harrogate, York, Wakefield, and Sheffield. I recruit interim, contract, and temp-to-perm roles for a wide range of organisations - from PLCs and AIM-listed businesses to privately owned companies and high-growth SMEs.

The roles I cover span everything from Financial Accountants, Management Accountants, Finance Managers, Financial Controllers, and Finance Directors, through to more specialist positions like Finance Business Partners, Financial Analysts, Systems Accountants, and Heads of Finance. This breadth has allowed me to build strong, lasting relationships with both clients and candidates, which is one of the parts of the job I enjoy most.

What has been your most memorable moment with Marks Sattin so far?

Probably winning places on both the Marks Sattin annual holiday competition and the GI Group Cross Sell competition - which meant back-to-back trips to Marbella and New York. Those experiences were not only incredible but also a reminder of what’s possible when you put the work in.

What would you say to someone considering joining Marks Sattin? 

Where other businesses are scaling back, we continue to invest - in our technology (including AI and LinkedIn), in high‑quality networking events, and in ongoing training and development. Our market‑leading commission structure and monthly, quarterly, and annual incentives - from spa days and Cube experience days to trips to Marbella or New York - create an environment where hard work is genuinely rewarded. 

What really sets Marks Sattin apart, though, is the culture. There’s a clear, achievable career pathway, a genuine commitment to developing people, and a collaborative approach where we share information, roles, and support one another. Because of all this, I truly believe we have one of the strongest brands and reputations in finance recruitment - and our client and candidate feedback reflects that.

What advice would you give to someone looking to build a successful career here? 

Work hard, deliver exceptional service, and embrace collaboration. If you do that, you’ll succeed - and you’ll be recognised and rewarded along the way.

Can you tell us about your involvement with Business Beats Cancer Yorkshire and what the role means to you? 

My involvement with Business Beats Cancer Yorkshire is deeply personal. I’ve supported close family members through their cancer journeys, including losing my mum, and seeing that impact first-hand has shaped my determination to help others facing similar challenges.

That’s why being part of Business Beats Cancer Yorkshire means so much. The initiative brings together the local business community to raise vital funds for life-saving research through Cancer Research UK, and it’s incredibly inspiring to see what can be achieved when people come together for such an important cause.

I’m proud to have been appointed as a Board Member and to play a role in leading these efforts across Yorkshire. For me, it’s about making a real difference - supporting research, raising awareness, and ultimately helping to improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.