2026 FC and FD Salary Market Outlook | Accountancy Capital

The UK finance and accountancy job market in 2026 is a market in transition. The sharp demand increase of 2021–2022 — driven by post-pandemic hiring and the private equity investment boom — has normalised. The market of late 2023 and early 2024 — characterised by candidate caution, slower hiring decisions and some salary softening at the senior end — has stabilised. What we are seeing in the market now is a more selective hiring environment: employers are taking longer to make decisions, are more specific about what they need, and are less willing to compromise on capability. But they are hiring.

This piece gives the Accountancy Capital perspective on FC and FD salary expectations in 2026 — what has changed, what has held, and what the outlook looks like for the rest of the year.

What Has Happened to FC Salaries Since 2022

The surge in Financial Controller salaries between 2021 and 2022 was driven by an unusual combination: high demand from PE-backed businesses flush with capital, low candidate supply as qualified finance professionals stayed in roles they had moved to during the pandemic, and general wage inflation driven by the broader labour market. ONS earnings data for 2021–2022 showed professional services earnings growing at 6–8% annually — the fastest sustained growth in a generation.

FC salaries at that peak were running at 10–15% above where they had been in 2019. A London FC in a PE-backed business that was £80,000 in 2019 was £90,000–£95,000 by 2022. A permanent FC in a high-growth tech business in the South East that was £75,000 pre-pandemic was £85,000 in 2022.

The correction since then has been partial rather than full. Salaries have not returned to 2019 levels. What has happened is that the pace of growth has slowed significantly — from 6–8% annually to 2–4% — and that the premium for candidates who move jobs has reduced. The 20–25% uplift that candidates were routinely achieving in 2021–2022 by moving from one employer to another is now more typically 10–15%, and only where the candidate is genuinely moving up in seniority or complexity rather than making a lateral move.

Where FC Salaries Stand in 2026

The Accountancy Capital 2026 benchmark ranges for permanent Financial Controller appointments across the UK are:

£65,000–£80,000 for an FC at a small to mid-size business (up to £30 million revenue) with a small finance team and a relatively straightforward reporting requirement. This range applies across the majority of UK regions outside London.

£80,000–£100,000 for an FC at a mid-market business (£30 million to £100 million revenue) or a smaller business with above-average complexity — PE-backed, multi-entity, regulated or heavily audited.

£100,000–£130,000 for an FC at a larger or more complex business — a group with multiple subsidiaries, an FCA-regulated firm with significant CASS or regulatory capital obligations, a PE-backed business at a late stage of the investment cycle with imminent exit preparation, or a listed company subsidiary.

London commands a premium of £10,000–£20,000 across all bands. See FC Salary Guide UK and London FC Salary Guide for the detailed 2026 benchmark data.

FD Salary Expectations in 2026

Finance Director salaries have followed a similar trajectory to FC salaries — strong growth in 2021–2022, partial correction in 2023–2024, stabilisation in 2025–2026. The key differences at FD level are the greater weighting of bonus and equity in total remuneration, and the wider dispersion of base salaries across business sizes.

At SME and mid-market level (£20 million to £100 million revenue), Finance Director base salaries in 2026 run from £100,000 to £160,000 with annual bonus of 20–40% of base. PE-backed businesses in this range typically include a management equity or co-investment arrangement that can be worth a multiple of base salary at exit.

At larger business or listed company level, FD base salaries run from £160,000 to £250,000 with total remuneration significantly higher once bonus, LTIP and share schemes are included. The fractional FD market — which grew substantially through 2022–2024 as businesses sought the FD capability without the full-time cost — has matured into a distinct market with its own day rate benchmarks. See Fractional CFO and FD Day Rate Guide for 2026 fractional rate benchmarks.

What Is Driving the Market in the Second Half of 2026

Three factors are shaping the FC and FD hiring market in the second half of 2026. PE activity. The private equity deal market, which was significantly slower in 2023 and early 2024 as interest rates remained elevated, has been recovering through 2025 and into 2026 as Bank of England base rate reductions have improved deal economics. PE-backed businesses hiring FCs and FDs at entry, growth and exit stages are one of the strongest demand drivers in the senior finance market.

AI capability premium. As described elsewhere on this site, the premium for FC and FD candidates who can demonstrate genuine AI adoption capability is real and growing. Employers who are specific about wanting AI-capable finance leaders are willing to pay above the benchmark range for candidates who can demonstrate it.

Regulatory finance demand. The growth of the UK’s FCA-regulated sector — fintech, digital assets, BNPL, wealth management — has created sustained demand for finance professionals with regulatory finance experience. The premium for CASS, SMCR and Consumer Duty experience remains at 10–15% above equivalent non-regulated roles and shows no sign of reducing as the regulatory environment continues to develop.

For candidates, the market conditions of the second half of 2026 reward specificity and patience. The employers making the best hires are those with a clear brief and a structured process. The candidates achieving the best outcomes are those who are specific about what they want, patient about the right opportunity, and able to demonstrate the specific capabilities their target employers are looking for. See FM to FC Career Guide, Route to CFO and Knowledge Centre.

One development worth noting for both employers and candidates is the growing divergence between the permanent and fractional markets. The fractional FC and FD market has matured significantly since 2022 — it is now a genuine alternative to the permanent hire for businesses at the right stage, not a compromise solution for businesses that cannot afford a permanent hire. The fractional professionals in this market are, in many cases, the same calibre of candidate who would command a £100,000–£130,000 permanent salary, available on a two or three day per week basis at day rates that reflect their experience.

For businesses at the £3 million to £15 million revenue stage — below the scale where a full-time FC is clearly justified, above the stage where a bookkeeper and part-time accountant are sufficient — the fractional FC is often the most cost-effective finance leadership solution available. The fractional FC market has produced more satisfied clients over the last three years than any other segment of the finance hiring market we operate in, because the expectations are clear on both sides and the engagement model is flexible enough to scale with the business.

See Fractional Financial Controller, Fractional FC Day Rates, Fractional CFO Day Rates, FC Salary Guide UK and All Salary Guides for the full 2026 benchmarking picture.