2025 Finance and Accounting Salaries and Hiring Trends

Companies’ prioritization of technology, risk, regulatory compliance and strategic advisory roles is escalating demand for a variety of finance and accounting professionals. Managers are using AI and automation tools to increase efficiencies, and they need teams in place with the right skills to use them.

Yet employers often create their own hiring roadblocks by failing to meet salary demands, offer hybrid work options or consider alternative staffing approaches. For many, these missteps carry immediate and long-term consequences, including missing out on top candidates, widening skills gaps, and increasing staff burnout and turnover.

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Enter your city to localize national average salaries. Starting salaries can vary greatly depending on a professional’s skills and experience, the company’s size and industry, and demand for the role.

Corporate Accounting

Compliance

Tax

Internal Audit

IT Audit

Financial Reporting

General Accounting

Cost Accounting

Financial Analysis

Budget Analysis

Treasury Analysis

Business Analysis

Data Analysis

Business Intelligence Analysis

Business Systems Analysis

Financial Systems

Operational Support: Credit and Collections

Operational Support: Bookkeepers

Accounting Operations

Accounting Operations: Payroll

Public Accounting

Banking and Financial Markets

Financial Services

Financial Services: Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)

Financial Services: Internal Audit

Financial Services: Regulatory Reporting

Financial Services: Risk Analysis

Financial Services: Compliance

Fund Accounting and Operations

Banking and Financial Markets Operations

Position Title

25th Percentile

50th Percentile

75th Percentile

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Corporate Accounting

194250

268250

321750

Vice President of Finance

165000

207000

250500

Corporate Controller

151000

184250

213250

Divisional Controller

112000

155750

176250

Assistant Controller

92500

122000

142000

Director of Finance

126500

167000

180750

Director of Accounting

125000

164250

180750

Treasurer

139750

212750

245000

Assistant Treasurer

78250

105750

123250

Financial Project Manager

107500

136500

165750

Forensic Accountant

84750

105500

121750

Property Accountant

68250

78250

94000

Plant Controller

104750

120500

131000

Procurement Manager

81750

112250

125250

Procurement Specialist

45750

58500

71250

25th Percentile

The candidate is new to the role and building the needed skills, experience and autonomy.

50th Percentile

The candidate has the experience to perform core responsibilities without direct supervision and is comfortable with the role’s processes and subject matter.

75th Percentile

The candidate delivers value beyond the stated job duties, has advanced qualifications and experience, and is ready for the next career level.

Salary and Hiring Trends in Finance and Accounting

As finance teams’ digital transformation projects ramp up, companies need professionals with strong skills in AI, cybersecurity, automation and ERP systems. But managers are finding it difficult to hire quickly enough and to meet candidates’ pay expectations.

of finance and accounting managers say hiring quickly enough to land top talent is one of their top recruiting challenges. of finance and accounting managers say hiring quickly enough to land top talent is one of their top recruiting challenges.

rank meeting candidates’ salary expectations as a top challenge. rank meeting candidates’ salary expectations as a top challenge.

How much should I pay or earn?

Starting salaries are rising primarily for high-demand roles in areas such as accounting operations, financial analysis and general accounting. For jobs that can be done remotely, 65% of managers are willing to increase starting salaries for new hires to work in the office full or part time. Of those, 55% are offering workers up to 20% more pay to come in 4 to 5 days a week.

of finance and accounting professionals want to work in the office 3 days a week or less. of finance and accounting professionals want to work in the office 3 days a week or less.

Financial
reporting Financial
modeling Technology
expertise Management
experience Financial
reporting Financial
modeling Technology
expertise Management
experience

Upskilling
employees Reskilling
employees for
new roles Paying for
professional
certifications Engaging
skilled contract
talent Implementing
mentoring
programs Offering job
rotations Using managed
services Upskilling
employees Reskilling
employees for
new roles Paying for
professional
certifications Engaging
skilled contract
talent Implementing
mentoring
programs Offering job
rotations Using managed
services

The hottest finance and accounting jobs, skills and industries

Finance and accounting jobs

Accounting specialist

Skills and certifications

CPA

Compliance reporting

ERP software

Excel (advanced)

Financial reporting

MBA

Industries

Construction

Financial services

Healthcare

Manufacturing

Nonprofit

Real estate

Emerging AI roles in finance and accounting

Leveraging AI in finance

Public accounting trends

The accountant shortage not only continues — it’s worsening. Professionals are overtasked, and many leave public accounting for a better work-life balance. To alleviate workloads and stress, firms are hiring for permanent roles and bringing in contract professionals during seasonal peaks.

To boost their hiring efforts, companies find they must raise salaries and offer flexible work options.

Some managers assign light accounting duties to employees on other teams. This alleviates pressure on accounting staff, but it can drive up salaries across the firm.

Financial institutions are focusing their hiring strategies on business growth and integrating new technology. But they face severe talent shortages. Candidates with experience in data analytics and tech systems are in especially high demand in areas such as market risk management, regulatory reporting and fraud detection.

of financial services managers experience challenges finding skilled professionals. of financial services managers experience challenges finding skilled professionals.

Finance and financial reporting Finance and financial reporting

Financial planning and analysis Financial planning and analysis

Budgets and analysis Budgets and analysis

Auditing Auditing

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Hiring managers: Need more insights? Schedule a Salary Guide walk-through

The salary benchmarks listed in the Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process to ensure our projections accurately reflect the marketplace. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has matched with employers across the country and third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use to independently validate the salary ranges. Learn more about our methodology.

The salaries listed in the salary tables represent starting compensation only, meaning pay for someone new to a company in the position listed. Company size, industry and the availability of remote work options can influence salaries. Our estimates do not include bonuses, benefits or perks. We report salaries in percentiles and ranges, recognizing that professionals join companies at varied experience levels.

Non-salary data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents include hiring managers and workers from small (1-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000-plus employees) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across the United States.