Professional Overview
Andy Lee (he/him) is the Founder of Trace, a specialist Accountancy & Finance recruitment consultancy based in London and Reading, United Kingdom. Trace is recognized for its expertise in recruiting senior finance talent primarily within Financial Services—including Investment Management, Private Equity, and Banking—as well as across Commerce, Industry, and Not-for-Profit (NFP) sectors. The consultancy emphasizes a detailed understanding of client businesses and candidate cultures to ensure precise talent matching.
Andy Lee has established himself as an authoritative voice in recruitment for the accountancy and finance sectors, with a client-focused approach grounded in industry knowledge and candidate insight.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
At Trace, Andy Lee leads an expert team delivering recruitment solutions for permanent and interim finance roles, spanning:
- Senior appointments such as CFOs, Finance Directors, and Financial Controllers.
- Niche & specialist accountancy and finance recruitment in London and the South East.
- Talent acquisition strategies tailored to evolving sector needs in both financial services and broader industries.
His role includes overseeing client engagements, candidate relationship management, and driving the agency’s strategic direction and market positioning.
Industry Thought Leadership and Content Contributions
Andy frequently publishes articles and thought leadership content that demonstrate both his and Trace’s expertise in recruitment and HR best practices. Notable recent publications include:
- "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging" (May 17, 2023) — Advocates for educating recruitment professionals to foster inclusive talent acquisition practices.
- "Inclusive Hiring – how can we all up the ante?" (Oct 14, 2022) — Discusses Trace’s open-minded and inclusive candidate acquisition methodologies.
- "Attraction, Hiring and Retention Strategies in a Candidate Driven Market" (Mar 11, 2022) — Provides pragmatic strategies to attract and retain top candidates in competitive markets.
- Earlier insights on interim recruitment trends and evolving recruiter roles have been shared since 2015, reflecting ongoing engagement with sector developments.
These published insights position Andy Lee as a knowledgeable recruitment strategist familiar with current market dynamics and talent challenges, particularly in accountancy and finance sectors.
Recruitment Focus and Expertise
Trace under Andy’s leadership specializes in:
- Placing qualified professionals (e.g., CIMA, ACA accountants) into hands-on commercial finance roles.
- Serving luxury multisite and complex family-owned businesses, supporting finance leads who impact margin improvement and EBITDA growth.
- Providing recruitment services across permanent, interim, and contract roles for finance professionals.
- Offering career development pathways for entry-level Associates and recruitment consultants within their practice, emphasizing candidate-focused relationship building.
Andy is actively involved in recruiting for roles such as Commercial & Projects Finance Manager (salary range approx. £75-90k plus bonus), highlighting Trace’s capability to source candidates capable of delivering measurable commercial impact.
Professional Background and Education
- Education: Andy holds a BA in Business Studies from Bournemouth University (1998–2002), with a final year specialization in Marketing. His dissertation focused on the rebranding of BT Cellnet to O2, indicating early interest in strategic business and marketing considerations.
- Experience: His career began in banking, where he gained significant commercial finance exposure, including co-managing portfolios with billions in short-term assets, which provided foundational expertise contributing to his recruitment consultancy focus.
Network and Industry Reputation
- Andy has over 6,000 LinkedIn followers and 500+ connections, reflecting a strong and active professional network.
- Multiple client and peer recommendations highlight his deep industry knowledge, ability to understand client needs, and trustworthy, consultative approach in recruitment.
- Colleagues commend his research rigor, honesty, and capacity to encourage innovative thinking when sourcing talent.
Contact Information and Public Presence
- LinkedIn Profile: [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/andy1ee](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/andy1ee)
- Email: andy.lee@tracerecruit.com
- Phone: 020 7042 8421
- Company Website: [https://www.tracerecruit.com](https://www.tracerecruit.com)
Regular LinkedIn posts and activity emphasize Trace’s current recruitment opportunities, market trends, and HR insights, which underscores Andy’s hands-on involvement in building Trace’s brand and engagement with candidates and clients alike.
This profile consolidates Andy Lee’s professional standing as a leading expert in accountancy and finance recruitment, combining sector-specific knowledge, thought leadership, and strategic talent acquisition capabilities within Trace Recruitment—a consultancy known for precision in senior-level and specialized finance appointments across London and the South East.
