Eight years focused on nothing else.
Keith Lackie started in retained search, moved in-house, and has spent the last eight years working exclusively in the practice market across the South West, South Wales and the Midlands.
From the inside out.
Keith began his recruitment career in retained search, before moving in-house to lead hiring within two of the UK's most respected accountancy practices. One a well-regarded South West regional firm, the other a national Top 10 practice with significant regional presence.
In those roles, he sat alongside Partners and Directors and established what a hire actually needed to look like. Not just the skills on a job description, but the qualities that would make someone genuinely right for that firm at that moment. He explored what quality meant, embedded and applied these standards in interviews, and observed from the inside which placements worked and which did not. That pattern recognition is difficult to develop from the outside. It takes time inside to appreciate.
For the past eight years, Keith has focused exclusively on the practice market across the South West, South Wales, and the Midlands. It is the only market he works in. That focus is deliberate.
In 2025, he founded Lackie Search Partners to bring that depth of experience directly to clients and candidates.
For Partner appointments, he works on a retained basis. For Senior to Director hires, on a contingency model, with a full commitment to filling the role when engaged exclusively. In both cases, the standard is the same: to work every role properly, until it is filled.
Outside the office.
Keith is a husband and a father of two. Outside work, he rides motorcycles, cycles, and enjoys hiking. He reads widely: travel writing, political history, wartime accounts, and crime.
He enjoys travelling and has a particular enthusiasm for natural ciders, seeking them out wherever possible, with a focus on producers from South West England, Wales, and France.
Three things we will not compromise on.
Honesty
We give clients and candidates an honest view of the market, including when it is not what they want to hear.
Commitment
When given a role on an exclusive basis, we commit to working it until it is filled. We do not deprioritise hard searches.
Specialism
We work only in accountancy practice, only in our three regions. Depth over breadth.
Three regions. Real depth in each.
South West England
A strong cluster of well-regarded regional independents and mid-tier nationals, ranging from boutique specialists to significant Top 50 firms. A mature and active practice market with depth across all specialisms.
Midlands
A broad and varied market with a mix of established regional independents and expanding mid-tier nationals. Growing advisory demand across audit, tax, and advisory specialisms.
South Wales
A growing practice sector with consistent demand for experienced professionals. Strong regional firms with clear career progression and an attractive cost of living relative to other UK practice markets.