Average UK weekly wages currently sit at around £550, but in the finance sector it is £648 per week, 17 per cent higher than the national average.
Are you looking for a new job in the financial sector? Take a look at what you could earn in these five top-paying jobs as reported and curated by Randstad and financial comparison website Lending Expert.
Investment Banker
Investment bankers deal primarily with some of the trickiest aspects of commercial finance. Their expertise extends into areas such as initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, issuing debt instruments to clients, and raising money for the bank’s investment trusts.
Most investment bankers specialise in one particular area because of the complexity of their work. And when they do, they can command exceptionally high wages. Their skills are rare.
Most investment bankers earn between £30,000 and £40,000. However, those with sufficient experience can go on to make over £150,000.
Financial Analyst
The purpose of a financial analyst is to explore data, evaluate it, and then use it make recommendations to the financial institution. It requires comfort with numbers and the ability to extract useful insight from them. Those with a background in finance or economics are ideal for this role, though statisticians also have helpful, relevant skills.
The pay is good and scales quickly. The average financial analyst can earn anywhere from £22,000 to £60,000 depending on the bank and their skill.
Fund Accountant
Unlike regular accountants who tend to deal with individual or corporate accounts, a fund accountant is responsible for looking after a particular fund, whether it be a mutual fund, a donor fund, or something else. Their job is to account for the fund expenses, work out who owes tax, conduct asset reconciliations, and help to price the value of the securities they look after.
It’s a complicated job. Outside of London, pay averages £30,000. In London, it’s closer to £40,000.
Financial Controller
A financial controller is somebody who supervises the financial situation of a financial institution. They rarely get involved in the day-to-day administration of company accounts.
Often part of the C-suite, financial controllers have many responsibilities, including ensuring that the company is compliant, budgeting for future projects, maintaining internal accounting standards, and analysing economic data so that company planners can make better decisions.
The annual salary for financial controllers starts at around £29,000 and rises to £74,000-plus, depending on seniority, company, and performance.
Management Accountant
Management accountants typically have a wide range of responsibilities, many of them similar to financial controllers. They can be asked to help with budgeting, managing risk, planning and strategy, and making decisions about company direction.
Pay is variable. Junior roles command salaries of anywhere between £24,000 and £46,000. More experienced accountants can earn anywhere from £46,000 to more than £129,000 annually.