Zachary Daniels Finance Salary Guide 2026
Download your copyFinance has changed, and fast. With tighter margins, rising expectations, and rapid digital transformation, finance teams are no longer just reporting the numbers. They’re shaping decisions, influencing strategy, and helping businesses navigate uncertainty with confidence.
So how do you make the right calls on hiring, pay, and capability in 2026?
That’s exactly why we created our 2026 Finance Salary Guide: to give you clear, practical insight into what’s really happening in the market, and what it means for your team.
What does a competitive finance salary look like in 2026?
How do you balance cost control with the need for commercially minded, data-literate finance talent? And how do you attract people who want more than just a spreadsheet and a payslip?
Our latest guide brings together real-world insight from CFOs, Finance Directors, and senior finance professionals across retail, consumer, D2C, and ecommerce, helping you plan for the year ahead with clarity (and fewer surprises).
Because one of the biggest risks right now? Paying yesterday’s salaries for tomorrow’s expectations.
Comprehensive 2026 salary benchmarking
Inside the guide, you’ll find detailed, up-to-date salary ranges across finance roles, split by London and the regions, organisation size, and experience level.
Roles covered include:
- Transactional & Shared Services (AP, AR, Credit, Payroll)
- Part-qualified & Newly Qualified roles
- Commercial Finance, FP&A, and Business Partnering
- Financial Controllers, Heads of Finance, Finance Directors, and CFOs
What we’ve learnt for 2026
This year’s guide explores how the finance function is evolving, and what that means for hiring, retention, and leadership decisions:
What’s really driving finance hiring
Finance now sits at the centre of business strategy. We unpack why digital capability, data literacy, and strong business partnering skills are fast becoming non-negotiables, and how this is reshaping demand across finance teams.
Beyond salary: what finance professionals actually want
Salary still matters, but it’s no longer the whole story. We look at why progression, leadership quality, flexibility, and exposure to modern systems are often more important than a marginal pay increase.
The real Finance x AI conversation
AI is no longer theoretical. Discover how finance leaders are using automation and AI tools to reduce friction, sharpen insight, and raise the bar on what “good” looks like, without losing the human judgment that matters most.
Wellbeing, benefits, and retention
From flexible working and meaningful wellbeing support to inclusive cultures that people genuinely want to be part of, we explore what’s helping finance teams stay engaged, even during intense trading cycles.
Upskill to retain
Discover how investment in development, learning, and career progression can help your people grow with your business, rather than looking elsewhere when growth stalls.
We’re here to help
With over a decade of experience supporting finance teams in retail and consumer markets, we understand the pressure finance leaders are under to get it right, especially when expectations keep rising.
We don’t just place finance professionals. We work alongside you as a true partner, helping you build finance teams that add insight, influence decisions, and drive performance.
The Zachary Daniels Salary Guide can help you recruit better. Download it now.
Finance Salary Benchmarks 2026
Finance salaries continue to reflect the growing strategic importance of the function across retail, consumer, ecommerce and D2C businesses.
From transactional finance and payroll to commercial business partnering and finance leadership, organisations need reliable salary benchmarks to attract and retain the right expertise.
Example Finance Salaries for 2026
The following examples highlight salary differences between London and the UK regions.
| Finance Role | London | UK Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts Payable Manager | £48,000 – £60,000 | £40,000 – £55,000 |
| Credit Manager | £50,000 – £70,000 | £45,000 – £70,000 |
| Payroll Manager | £55,000 – £80,000 | £45,000 – £55,000 |
| Head of Shared Services | £65,000 – £120,000 | £60,000 – £100,000 |
| Commercial Analyst / Finance Business Partner (Large company, 2–5 years) | £75,000 – £95,000 | £75,000 – £90,000 |
| Finance Director (SME, 5–10 years) | £95,000 – £130,000 | £85,000 – £110,000 |
Source: Zachary Daniels Finance Salary Guide 2026. Indicative annual salaries. Senior finance examples specify organisation size and experience bracket. Actual salaries vary according to responsibilities, experience and business structure.
Finance Recruitment Trends for 2026
The role of finance is shifting from reporting performance to influencing commercial decisions. Organisations increasingly need professionals who combine financial expertise with business partnering, analytical capability and strategic understanding.
According to insights included in our 2026 guide, 82% of finance leaders expect digital capability and data literacy to be key drivers of finance hiring decisions over the coming 12 months.
Competitive salaries also need to be supported by genuine progression, strong leadership, flexible working and opportunities to develop new technical capabilities.
The complete guide includes additional benchmarks covering transactional finance, payroll, qualified accountants, commercial finance, FP&A and senior leadership positions. Complete the form below to receive your copy.
