CS A GUIDE TOSALARIES AND SKI

SSALARIESG
DESKILLSAND SKILLSSA
NCEGUIDE 2022G FINANCE SOUTH
LONDON, SOUTH WEST & SOUTH WALES, SOUTH EAST, AND SOUTHERN HOME COUNTIES

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RECRUITMENT, TALENT, AND UK TRENDS

Contents

Introduction .................................................... 3
Market overview............................................... 4
Recruiting in finance
Talent trends
Most in-demand finance skills 2022
Salary guide.......................................................8
London
South West
South Wales
South East
Southern Home Counties
Additional resources ....................................... 9

2
AN INTRODUCTION FROM

Doug Rode
Managing Director – UK and Ireland
W elcome to our latest look at salary and skills trends in the finance sector across the south of the UK. You cannot have
failed to have seen the headlines around the challenges facing UK employers in recent months. A combination of
the pandemic and Brexit has led to skills shortages and talent gaps across many industries. One well-publicised knock-

“
on effect of this has been the supply chain disruption we’ve all suffered over recent months; another has been greater
competitiveness among employers for top candidates.
But while change can be challenging, it also offers opportunity. In fact, there’s never been a better time to take stock and
shape your team for the future. Hybrid working has opened up the talent pool in many sectors, with many roles less bound
by geographical location than pre-pandemic.
However, it remains a very candidate-led market, with competition for the best candidates in certain critical roles at its
highest that I can remember in the last 20 years.

A SNAPSHOT OF THE FINANCE HIRING LANDSCAPE

Like the wider employment market, hiring in finance is currently fast-paced and competitive, characterised by a large
number of vacancies and a shortage of candidates in many key roles. The interim market has likewise significantly
shrunk following Brexit, lockdown travel restrictions and tax legislation changes such as IR35, putting further
recruitment pressure on employers. But companies are looking to grow, and to this end, they are investing more in
talent acquisition than ever. In a bid to keep their best people and attract high calibre candidates, companies are also
bolstering their employment packages with a wide range of attractive benefits such as offering hybrid working. To
succeed in hiring top finance talent, companies must be ready to move fast, be flexible, and above all, compete.

Against this backdrop, we believe it’s crucial to understand the shape of the industry you operate in and key trends and
information from the talent market. As your recruitment partners, it has never been more important for us to provide you
with the key statistics and information you need to inform your business decisions for the months ahead. That’s why we
have put this guide together to offer clear insights in two key areas: the most in-demand skills and average salaries across
regions in the UK.
Our full salary guide for finance across southern regions of the UK begins on Page 8. You can also use our online Salary
Benchmarking & Comparison tool to get the latest information on salaries for hundreds of roles. Competition is fierce for
a range of skills, within both finance and the broader labour market. Therefore, we have also identified the most in-demand
skills in your sector.
As your needs evolve, our flexible teams – based in offices across the UK – are uniquely positioned to help find the right talent to
meet your business objectives. Our consultants are available via email, phone, and video to assist you with all of your recruitment
needs. You can also get in touch and request a call back by clicking here.
On behalf of PageGroup in the UK, I hope you enjoy the read.

Request a bespoke market

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insights report
3
Market overview
Market overview Salary guide Additional resources

RECRUITING IN FINANCE

Competition for talent: Last 3 months (excluding recruiters)

14,000
The current finance market is fast-paced, dynamic, and
extremely competitive. This means competition for top-quality
candidates is fierce and companies looking to recruit need
job adverts to ensure they are readily available to swiftly move with their
in finance processes. Salaries are dictated by demand and therefore we
have experienced a sharp uplift in candidates expectations over
the past 12 months.

Steven Wheller, Operating Director,

7,000 Page Personnel Finance

companies advertising

TEN MOST ADVERTISED ROLES

• MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT
• FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT
• ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT
• ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CLERK
• ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE CLERK
• ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT
• CREDIT CONTROLLER
• CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER
• PAYROLLER
• BOOKKEEPER

4
Market overview Market overview Salary guide Additional resources

RECRUITMENT BY LOCATION (JOBS ADVERTISED LAST 3 MONTHS)

South West &

Southern Home
Counties
“ The job market has never
been as competitive – with
job vacancies higher than ever
before and strong candidates
in short supply, it’s becoming
increasingly difficult to fill roles.
South Wales 10,478
With that in mind, companies
7,289 need to start thinking differently
London about how they recruit in order
11,559 to attract the best talent. Salaries
South East
are being offered at a higher
8,325 level than initially offered in
job ads, but companies are
Total : 37,651 having to adapt to candidate’s
demands by offering flexibility
and hybrid working. The hunger
for a better work-life balance is
more apparent now than it ever
has been and hence an agile
approach to hybrid working is
imperative.
With candidates in short supply,
companies are competing in a
much smaller candidate pool

Charlie Wilson,
Senior Manager,
Page Personnel Finance
than usual. So, when hiring
ensure you showcase your
business like never before.
“
5
Market overview
Market overview Salary guide Additional resources

TALENT TRENDS

28% 56% 14 2
of suitable are received in the The median time to Time to offer is
applications are first five days offer is 14 days for 2 days for
received in the first day permanent roles temporary roles

APPLICATIONS PER ADVERT BY REGION

In order to secure top talent,

LONDON 114 businesses need to optimise their
hiring processes. Make sure you’re
highlighting your company culture,
showcasing any training and
SOUTH WEST & 34 development opportunities, and
SOUTH WALES showing off your benefits package
as well as the flexible working hours/
hybrid working model you have in
SOUTHERN HOME 43 place to help make your business a
COUNTIES more attractive place to work.

SOUTH 40 Lily Russell, Manager,

EAST Page Personnel
Finance

Want to find out more about hiring in your Speak to a specialist

market and how we can help? 6
Market overview
Market overview Salary guide Additional resources

MOST IN-DEMAND SKILLS IN FINANCE 2022

In such a competitive and candidate driven finance hiring landscape, it has never been more important
for both organisations and finance professionals to understand the skill sets which drive performance and
success. With that said, here are the most valuable skills in today’s finance market:

BUSINESS PARTNERING
Finance business partners go beyond the production of standard
reports and analysis to lead multi-disciplinary conversations that
yield insights that inform and improve decision-making – and
ultimately boost the performance of the organisation. Mastering the
role of finance business partner can also serve as an alternative
route to senior management, due to the holistic view of the business
that the experience brings.

PROFICIENT USER OF MS EXCEL

Excel is an important tool that can help finance and accounting
professionals create reports, analyse data, and prepare financial
strategies ready to present to other areas of the business. Although
some candidates may have a basic knowledge of Excel, they might
not know about specialised functions that can make their job easier.

FLEXIBILITY TO WORK IN A HYBRID WORLD

Over the last 18 months, many businesses are now shifting towards
a more flexible/hybrid workplace. For many workers, this is a new
skill they’ve had to learn and adapt to. Having the motivation to still
get work done both at home and in the office, as well as gain the
trust of an employer that they can do both, is essential. In todays
market, employers want to hire people they feel they can trust to
work flexibly and productively.

STRONG INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Because finance is a number-intensive discipline, it’s crucial for
professionals to develop adequate communication skills to make their
work relatable to other areas of the business. The financial strength
of any organisation determines how effectively corporate goals can
be met and the overall mission accomplished given the resources at
hand. Crunching the numbers and analysing operational successes as
reflected by the data is a critical part of business systems. However,
getting everyone on board with strategies based on this data means
ensuring that the information is communicated effectively and is
relatable to all.
7
Salary Guide
Market overview Salary guide Additional resources

LONDON SOUTH EAST

TOP ADVERTISED JOB TITLES Low Median High TOP ADVERTISED JOB TITLES Low Median High

Account Payable Clerk 25,000 28,000 32,000 Account Payable Clerk 20,000 23,000 25,000
Account Receivable Clerk 26,000 28,000 32,000 Account Receivable Clerk 20,000 23,000 25,000
Accounts Administrator 24,000 26,000 28,000 Accounts Administrator 18,000 22,000 24,000
Accounts Assistant 27,000 30,000 33,000 Accounts Assistant 22,000 25,000 27,000
Accounts Payable Team Leader 30,000 35,000 38,000 Accounts Payable Team Leader 30,000 32,000 35,000
Accounts Payable Manager 35,000 40,000 45,000 Accounts Payable Manager 35,000 37,000 40,000
Accounts Receivable Manager 35,000 40,000 45,000 Accounts Receivable Manager 35,000 37,000 40,000
Assistant Accountant 32,000 35,000 38,000 Assistant Accountant 25,000 27,000 30,000
Bookkeeper 32,000 35,000 38,000 Bookkeeper 27,000 30,000 35,000
Credit Control Manager 35,000 45,000 50,000 Credit Control Manager 35,000 45,000 50,000
Credit Controller 28,000 32,000 35,000 Credit Controller 22,000 25,000 30,000
Finance Assistant 27,000 30,000 33,000 Finance Assistant 20,000 23,000 25,000
Finance Manager 38,000 40,000 45,000+ Finance Manager 35,000 40,000 45,000
Financial Accountant 38,000 40,000 45,000+ Financial Accountant 35,000 45,000 50,000
Financial Analyst 40,000 42,000 45,000 Financial Analyst 40,000 42,000 45,000 +
Head of Credit 55,000 65,000 80,000+ Head of Credit 50,000 60,000 70,000
Management Accountant 40,000 42,000 45,000+ Management Accountant 35,000 40,000 50,000
Payroll Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000+ Payroll Manager 35,000 40,000 50,000
Payroller 30,000 35,000 40,000 Payroller 24,000 30,000 33,000
Transactional Manager 45,000 55,000 60,000+ Transactional Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000

SOUTHERN HOME COUNTIES SOUTH WEST AND SOUTH WALES

TOP ADVERTISED JOB TITLES Low Median High TOP ADVERTISED JOB TITLES Low Median High

Account Payable Clerk 25,000 28,000 32,000 Account Payable Clerk 24,000 26,000 28,000
Account Receivable Clerk 26,000 28,000 32,000 Account Receivable Clerk 24,000 26,000 28,000
Accounts Administrator 23,000 24,000 26,000 Accounts Administrator 23,000 24,000 26,000
Accounts Assistant 26,000 28,000 30,000 Accounts Assistant 25,000 27,000 30,000
Accounts Payable Team Leader 30,000 33,000 38,000 Accounts Payable Team Leader 28,000 30,000 32,000
Accounts Payable Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000 Accounts Payable Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000
Accounts Receivable Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000 Accounts Receivable Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000
Assistant Accountant 30,000 32,000 35,000 Assistant Accountant 28,000 31,000 33,000
Bookkeeper 28,000 30,000 32,000 Bookkeeper 28,000 30,000 32,000
Credit Control Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000 Credit Control Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000
Credit Controller 28,000 30,000 32,000 Credit Controller 25,000 28,000 30,000
Finance Assistant 26,000 28,000 30,000 Finance Assistant 23,000 24,000 25,000
Finance Manager 38,000 40,000 45,000+ Finance Manager 38,000 40,000 45,000+
Financial Accountant 38,000 40,000 45,000+ Financial Accountant 38,000 40,000 45,000+
Financial Analyst 40,000 42,000 45,000 Financial Analyst 35,000 40,000 45,000
Head of Credit 55,000 65,000 80,000+ Head of Credit 55,000 65,000 80,000+
Management Accountant 40,000 42,000 45,000+ Management Accountant 38,000 42,000 45,000+
Payroll Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000+ Payroll Manager 40,000 45,000 50,000+
Payroller 28,000 35,000 40,000 Payroller 28,000 32,000 35,000
Transactional Manager 45,000 50,000 60,000+ Transactional Manager 45,000 50,000 60,000+

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Additional resources
Market overview Salary guide Additional resources

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