SOC 3534 Business and public service associate professionals

Financial accounts managers Salary

Median salary £45,162 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £45,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For financial accounts managers, £48,980 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +25% versus the national average. Experienced financial accounts managers (top 25%) earn over £60,950.

About this role

Financial accounts managers oversee financial accounting operations, managing teams that produce statutory accounts, manage ledgers, handle tax compliance and ensure accurate financial reporting within organisations.

Key responsibilities

Managing the production of monthly and annual accounts
Overseeing accounts payable, receivable and general ledger
Ensuring compliance with accounting standards and tax legislation
Managing and developing finance team members
Liaising with auditors and tax advisers

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires AAT Level 4 or part-qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA status. Many are fully qualified accountants. Substantial practical accounting experience is essential.

Career outlook

Steady demand across all sectors. Automation of routine accounting is shifting the role towards analysis, reporting and business partnering.

Key skills

Financial accounting Team management Statutory reporting Tax compliance ERP systems

Common industries

All commercial sectors
Public sector
Professional services
Manufacturing
Retail

Data coverage

SOC code 3534

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 129,000

Median Salary

£45,162

Mean Salary

£52,108

Jobs (000s)

129k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £33,028Median: £45,162P75: £60,950

P10: £23kP25: £33kMedian: £45kP75: £61kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£22,871

0-2 years

Mid Level

£33,028

3-7 years

Senior

£60,950

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +166% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +29.8%Real growth: -5.9%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 21.8%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£45,162

Full-time Only

£48,980

Full-time premium: +£3,818

Financial accounts managers salary: common questions

How much do financial accounts managers earn in the UK?

Financial accounts managers earn a median of £48,980 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £33,028 and £60,950.

Is £48,980 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for financial accounts managers?

Entry-level financial accounts managers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £33,028, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £22,871.

Have financial accounts managers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median financial accounts managers pay has risen from £37,272 to £48,980 — +31% in cash terms, or -5.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for financial accounts managers?

Male financial accounts managers earn a median £52,888 and female financial accounts managers £41,344 — a gap of +22% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).