Highest paying finance jobs in the UK for 2026
Head of Finance Transformation
The head of finance transformation role sits squarely between the worlds of tech and finance, signalling a distinct shift towards futureproofing financial systems as well as maintaining them. Working in this role, you could start on a salary of £88,250 and reach anything up to £132,500 according to our new UK salary benchmarks.
Professionals looking to increase their earning potential in an HoFT role should consider developing their skills and experience in generative AI solutions and agentic AI. Proven experience with project and change management is also incredibly beneficial. Earning potential can also be increased by relocating to a role based in Greater or Central London (£176,250 and £180,250 respectively) or working in a location like Reading (£173,500) or Guildford (£165,750).
Head of Tax
Global regulatory and digital reporting is evolving, making tax a critical strategic business stronghold for continuity and futureproofing against regulatory volatility. As a result, the head of tax salary has become one of the highest in the finance function, with an average starting salary of £88,750 for new professionals and £118,750 at the top end of the pay scale for experienced professionals.
The highest earners in a HoT role will have skills and experience with AI-driven tools and automation, data analytics, and financial reporting. Salaries for this role are considerably higher in London, with top-end offers averaging £161,500 in Central London for candidates with relevant skills and experience in the role. The South-East of the UK also offer competitive salaries for this role, alongside Cambridge, Bristol, and Birmingham.
Finance Director
Finance director duties revolve around ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and driving business success through solid insights and commercial acumen, which is reflected in the salary. A finance director career could help you lock down an average salary range between £89,750 – £138,000. Professionals will find they have a higher earning potential for this role in Central London, where the top-end salary is £187,750.
Finance directors can boost their earning potential by demonstrating current in-demand skills for the industry, such as a blend of traditional accounting and finance. This includes strategy, budget, forecasting, and planning.
Group Finance Director
The average group finance director salary for 2026 is predicted to sit within a range of £106,750– £162,500. The figure increases for London-based roles, which offer a maximum salary of £221,000 in Central London and £216,250 in Greater London, due to the area's status as a financial capital and the natural high demand for quality talent. A group finance director could also command a higher top-end salary in the South-East of the UK and the East.
Our recruitment experts have revealed that Group FDs with experience in multiple entity/country consolidations, international experience, and industry expertise have a higher earning potential. The Group FD is responsible for driving change, so skills or experience in business transformation, standardisation, and automation are highly desirable.
Chief Financial Officer
Unsurprisingly, as one of the top roles in corporate accounting, the chief financial officer (CFO) is currently the highest-earning position. According to our data, a CFO can start on a salary of £132,500 and could reach an average of £176,500 at a mid-weight level.
Experienced senior talent can command anything up to £220,500, reflecting the diverse skill set and role remit needed for success. Regionally, the highest CFO salaries are being awarded to professionals in Central and Greater London (top-end salaries of £300,000 and £293,250, respectively), and in areas like Reading (£288,750), Guildford (£275,750), and Cambridge (£264,500).
You can increase your CFO salary by demonstrating in-demand skills like private equity and venture capital experience. Employers are also looking for executives with experience in capital raising (IPO, sale, carve-out, debt restructuring, etc.). You could also increase your earning potential by side-stepping into financial services, FTSE100 and PEVC-backed companies. For example, a CFO in financial services could start at £133,250 and go up to £225,000 at the highest end of the pay scale.
