Research reveals financial roles set for biggest salary increases

Finance recruitment company Robert Half has revealed which roles are set for the biggest salary increases in 2018.

The Robert Half 2018 Salary Guide showed accountants and finance leaders will see the biggest increase in their salary as demand for skilled finance professionals rises.

Shortage

The financial services sector is currently facing a skills shortage, with more than 50 per cent of executives in the sector experiencing difficulty recruiting skilled professionals and 59 per cent saying demand is outstripping supply.

According to Robert Half’s 2018 Salary Guide, accountants with three years’ post-qualified experience (PQE) are set for the biggest salary rise, with a predicted increase of 4.2 per cent.

This was followed by chief financial officer/group financial director and senior financial controller, with salaries in both roles predicted to increase by 4 per cent. The salaries of risk associates and operations managers are expected to increase by 3.3 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively.

Accountants with four to seven years’ PQE are expected see a rise of 3.1 per cent, while salaries for assistant management/financial accountant roles are forecasted to increase by 2.9 per cent.

Other roles featured in the salary guide included tax specialist (2.6 per cent), finance director (2.6 per cent), and systems accountant (2.5 per cent).

Prioritise

Robert Half UK Director Matt Weston commented: “In a bid to attract highly skilled professionals, many financial services firms plan to prioritise salary increases and bonus payments tied to performance over standard benefits this year.”