Top 10 accountancy and finance salary increases for the year ahead 

The last 12 months have seen accountancy and finance employers still battling strong competition in a bid to secure top finance talent. Skills shortages have hampered the industry, with 92% of employers having faced them over the past year. The vast majority (88%) of employers have increased salaries, often driven by attempts to improve candidate attraction and retention.

Most finance employers (69%) say they are planning on recruiting in the year ahead, a fairly significant increase on those who said the same last year (60%), with 64% telling us they will be looking to hire permanent roles.

Our 2025 Salary and Recruiting Trends Guide gathers survey data from almost 11,000 professionals – over 1,400 of which are from the accountancy and finance profession – providing insights into salary changes, hiring trends and more.

This research answers some important questions: 

• Which accountancy and finance jobs have seen the most significant salary increases?
• What do employers need to do to attract and retain top talent?
• What’s the employment outlook for 2025?

In-demand roles saw the most substantial salary hikes

The accountancy and finance industry saw notable salary growth this past year, with a 3.6% increase compared to the UK's overall average uplift of 2.4% – this follows a 5.6% hike last year for the profession. These pay rises have led to a modest increase in salary satisfaction, with only 29% of employees now expressing dissatisfaction with their pay compared to 33% last year. Additionally, 87% of employers anticipate raising salaries in the coming year.

Part-qualified roles have seen the largest average salary increases (5.8%), while accountancy support and accounts receivable positions increased by an average of 5.3% and 5.1%, respectively.

Although not the highest paid jobs in accountancy and finance overall, our list of top jobs have seen the biggest percentage increases in remuneration over the past year. These are some of the most sought-after talent pools – as a result of strong demand but a shortage of candidates – and employers are having to improve their offerings to attract and retain valuable workers.

Top 10 pay rises according to our 2025 Salary and Recruiting Trends Guide

1. Part-qualified accountant
2. Finance manager
3. Financial director
4. Financial planning & analysis manager
5. Bookkeeper
6. Accounts receivable supervisor
7. Accounts payable clerk/senior accounts payable clerk
8. Accounts receivable manager
9. Accounts receivable administrator
10. Head of payroll

Hybrid working remains a must-have for most

Flexible working was rated as the most important benefit to accountancy and finance professionals when considering a new role, with 34% selecting this option – ahead of additional vacation days (30%) and health insurance or medical cover (28%).

Currently, 70% of employers in the accountancy and finance sector offer hybrid working. Employers that aren’t giving their workers this option may struggle with a limited talent pool, with 64% of candidates finding it important and 58% unwilling to accept a job without it. Additionally, 14% are looking for fully remote roles in the coming year, which may be a USP that employers could consider offering if they’re struggling to engage applicants. 

Attracting and retaining talent in a skills short market

As skills shortages persist and job opportunities remain plentiful, attracting and retaining staff is imperative. The most cited reasons for professionals wanting to leave their current role include dissatisfaction with salary and benefits (41%), lack of future opportunities (38%) and low salary (20%).

When considering a new role, employees are most attracted to an engaging and supportive team culture (68%), job security (64%) and tailored flexible working policies (64%). It’s important for employers to showcase a strong employee value proposition (EVP) if they want to stand out from the competition and attract top talent. However, it’s vital that an organisation’s EVP that is advertised during the hiring process truly matches the reality of working there, since 44% of accountancy and finance professionals believe their employer’s EVP does not align with the actual employee experience. Over half (52%) have even left a job because it didn’t meet the expectations set during the application and interview process.

With over half (58%) of accountancy and finance employees planning on switching jobs in the coming year – a significant increase from last year’s 47% – this is a statistic that employers shouldn’t take lightly given the labour market conditions.

Employers: discover more about the hiring trends currently shaping the world of work and ensure your salaries aren’t falling behind the competition with our Hays Salary and Recruiting Trends guide for 2025. 

Jobseekers: want to know if you’re being paid the market rate? Take a look at our salary calculator to find out.