What this year’s salary data tells us about finance roles

Every quarter we update our salary benchmarks based on the placements we make and the conversations we have with candidates. This year, finance stands out: demand for experienced controllers keeps rising while the number of available candidates does not.

Salaries are moving up, but not evenly

Roles that combine reporting with business partnering are seeing the biggest increases. Pure accounting roles are rising more slowly. Companies that still benchmark against last year’s numbers often lose candidates in the final round.

Speed matters as much as money

Good finance candidates rarely stay on the market for more than a few weeks. A hiring process with five rounds and two weeks between each step simply loses them to faster competitors.

• Agree on the salary range before you start

• Keep the process to two or three rounds

• Make decisions within a week of the final interview

What this means for you

If you are hiring, plan for the market as it is today. If you are a candidate, it is a good moment to have an honest conversation about what you are worth.