Accountancy salaries 2025: 7 graphs to benchmark your income

Curious about how your salary compares to market standards? Use these graphs to benchmark typical accounting salaries by function and role.

by | 29 Jan, 2025

Curious about how your salary compares to market standards, or looking to offer a competitive package to attract top talent? Use these graphs to benchmark typical salaries by function and role across metropolitan and regional areas.

Are you earning what you’re worth in 2025?

Nearly half of accountancy professionals in the UK are unhappy with their salaries, according to recent research by Reed. Based on interviews with 5000 workers, the research found only 56% of workers in the accountancy and finance practice sector are “somewhat happy” or “very happy” with their pay.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to weigh on the minds of workers, employers face the dual challenge of retaining talent and maintaining profitability amid economic uncertainty.

Interestingly, while salary expectations remain high, they appear more tempered compared to previous years. In 2025, the average reported salary increased by 10% to £38,921, yet the average target salary decreased to £45,785 – a 17% desired pay increase, down from 37.6% last year. This shift indicates workers are adjusting their expectations in light of economic pressures and a competitive market.

Reed’s research shows that the accountancy and finance practice sector remains one of the most candidate-driven markets, with demand for skilled professionals consistently outpacing supply. As a result, firms face mounting challenges in attracting and retaining talent.

Regular pay reviews and benchmarking, along with a robust training and retention strategy, will be critical to plug skills gaps and meet evolving expectations. 

To help accountants navigate this landscape and see how their own compensation packages stack up, we’ve crunched salary data to compare typical salaries by function and role across metro and regional areas.

Business services outsourcing

Audit and Assurance

Personal tax

Corporate and indirect tax

Corporate finance

Corporate recovery and insolvency


Thinking of setting up and starting your own accounting practice? IFA’s Starting Out in Practice Workshop will equip you with the essential information to know before you start.

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