Accountancy and Finance Salary Survey 2025

Who this salary guide is for?

This guide is designed for:

• Hiring managers setting salary bands for London-based finance teams

• Business leaders planning accountancy and finance headcount for 2026

• Finance professionals benchmarking pay before changing roles

• Candidates exploring accountancy jobs in London or finance jobs in London

It is also useful if you are speaking to finance recruiters in London about your next move, or if you are a business comparing finance recruitment agencies in London while planning your 2026 hiring strategy.

2025 London salary benchmarks (base salary)

All figures reflect London-based roles in 2025 and represent base salary only, excluding bonus or long-term incentives.

What influenced salaries in London during 2025?

Across London finance jobs and London accountancy jobs, several themes appeared consistently.

Hybrid working became an expectation rather than a benefit. Roles offering two to three days working from home typically attracted stronger shortlists and shorter hiring timelines.

Qualification premiums remained strong. ACA, ACCA and CIMA qualified professionals continued to command higher salaries, particularly in Management Accountant, Financial Accountant, Finance Manager and Financial Controller roles.

Commercial finance and FP&A skillsets stayed in high demand. Roles involving forecasting, modelling and senior stakeholder engagement attracted a clear salary premium.

Role clarity mattered as much as pay. Employers who defined scope, responsibility and progression clearly hired faster than those with vague or inflated job descriptions.

These factors are expected to continue shaping hiring decisions and salary expectations into 2026. If your business is planning headcount and you are assessing finance recruitment in London, this is exactly why working with informed finance recruitment agencies can reduce time to hire and improve offer acceptance.

Role-by-role salary insight (London, 2025)

Accounts Assistant jobs in London

£25,000 to £35,000

Accounts Assistant salaries increased during 2025, particularly for candidates with strong Excel skills, broad transactional exposure across accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank reconciliations, and confidence using finance systems. Employers offering competitive salaries alongside clear development into month-end support or Assistant Accountant roles consistently attracted stronger junior candidates.

Assistant Accountant jobs in London

£30,000 to £40,000

Assistant Accountant hiring remained competitive throughout the year. Salaries pushed toward the top end where candidates supported month-end close, owned balance sheet reconciliations, and produced meaningful reporting. Study support and a visible route to qualification played a significant role in securing talent.

Assistant Management Accountant jobs in London

£35,000 to £40,000

Assistant Management Accountants were firmly positioned in the mid to high £30,000s during 2025. Higher salaries were linked to exposure to budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis and interaction with non-finance stakeholders. This role continues to be a key pathway into Management Accountant and commercial finance positions.

Management Accountant jobs in London

£55,000 to £75,000

Management Accountants remained one of the most consistently in-demand hires across London. Strong salaries were achieved where roles involved full ownership of the management accounts pack, business partnering with budget holders, forecasting input, and responsibility for process improvement or junior team members.

Financial Accountant jobs in London

£55,000 to £70,000

Financial Accountants with strong statutory reporting, controls and audit backgrounds continued to be highly sought after. Higher salaries were most commonly linked to post-qualification experience, group reporting exposure, and confidence in owning reporting cycles and deadlines.

Finance Analyst jobs in London

£50,000 to £75,000

Finance Analyst roles varied by business, but the strongest salaries were seen where positions focused on commercial insight, performance analysis, forecasting support and financial modelling. Candidates who were able to translate financial data into clear recommendations consistently secured stronger offers.

FP&A Analyst jobs in London

£50,000 to £70,000

FP&A Analyst hiring remained highly competitive. Salaries increased where analysts owned forecasts, delivered scenario modelling and worked closely with senior stakeholders. Hiring speed was often critical in securing top candidates.

FP&A Manager jobs in London

£65,000 to £90,000

FP&A Managers commanded premium salaries when roles combined leadership with strategic planning responsibility. Ownership of budgeting cycles, forecasting discipline, reporting quality and executive-level insight were key drivers of higher compensation.

Finance Manager jobs in London

£55,000 to £80,000

Finance Managers continued to be in demand for their balance of delivery, leadership and stakeholder management. Higher salaries were most common in roles involving people management, process improvement, multi-entity environments and systems development.

Financial Controller jobs in London

£80,000 to £110,000

Financial Controller hiring was shaped by control requirements, reporting deadlines and stakeholder pressure. Strong packages were offered to candidates who could balance technical rigour with leadership and consistent delivery.

Finance Director jobs in London

£90,000 to £180,000

Finance Director salaries varied widely depending on scope, strategic responsibility and organisational complexity. Upper-end salaries were most common in private equity-backed, multi-entity or transformation-focused businesses.

CFO jobs in London

£120,000 to £250,000

CFO compensation reflected strategic impact. Higher salaries were typically linked to fundraising experience, transformational leadership, M&A exposure and board-level credibility.

How this salary data was compiled

This London accountancy and finance salary guide is based on:

• Permanent and interim placements completed during 2025

• Offers made and accepted across London-based roles

• Active candidate registration and interview feedback

• Salary benchmarking discussions with employers and candidates

Figures reflect typical hiring ranges rather than outliers and are reviewed with 2026 planning in mind. This is the kind of practical benchmarking businesses expect when working with finance recruitment agenciesand high-performing finance recruiters in London.

What this means for 2026

For hiring managers, realistic salary benchmarking, clear role definition and decisive hiring processes will remain critical. Under-benchmarking and delays continue to be two of the most common causes of failed hires.

For job seekers, understanding current market ranges is essential when assessing opportunities and negotiating progression.

The finance recruitment agencies that consistently deliver hires are those that combine accurate benchmarking with strong candidate engagement. That is why many employers choose to work with specialist finance and accountancy recruiters in London, as they help both employers and candidates navigate salary expectations, role design and the pace of the London market.

Last reviewed: December 2025
Next review: Q4 2026