Updated November 2026 · 142 ACA packages · How the data works
What ACA (ICAEW Chartered Accountant) holders in UK finance actually earn, from packages they shared anonymously. Newly qualified, the median is £52,000. At the top, the median ACA qualified Chief Financial Officer earns £165,000.
| Role | ACA median | Middle half | All qualifications | ACA packages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Financial Officer | £165,000 | £145k to £201k | £165,000 | 39 |
| Group Finance Director | £130,000 | n/a | £135,000 | 9 |
| Finance Director | £133,000 | £112k to £150k | £115,000 | 18 |
| Head of Finance | £101,000 | £88k to £125k | £100,000 | 17 |
| Group Financial Controller | £125,000 | n/a | £108,000 | 9 |
| Financial Controller | £76,000 | n/a | £82,000 | 9 |
| Finance Manager | £67,000 | n/a | £66,000 | 7 |
| Commercial Finance Director | £150,000 | n/a | £150,000 | 5 |
Permanent roles, base salary. Roles with fewer than 5 ACA packages are not shown; ranges need 10. Differences between qualifications in the same role also reflect sector, company size and location, so treat them as context, not as the value of the qualification itself.
Across all roles. Years since qualifying moves with seniority, so read this alongside the role table.
| Median base | Middle half | Total package | Packages | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly qualified (0 to 2 years) | £52,000 | n/a | £62,000 | 9 |
| 3 to 5 years | £68,000 | £51k to £76k | £71,000 | 13 |
| 6 to 10 years | £94,000 | £74k to £140k | £116,000 | 27 |
| 11 to 15 years | £140,000 | £115k to £165k | £193,000 | 37 |
| 16+ years | £146,000 | £125k to £175k | £192,000 | 56 |
The median base salary across all 142 ACA qualified finance professionals in The Finance Pay Index is £125,000. That mixes every level from newly qualified to CFO, so the figure for your role or years since qualifying, below, is more useful.
ACA holders who qualified in the last two years earn a median base salary of £52,000, from 9 packages.
Median base salary by years since qualifying: 0 to 2 years: £52,000; 3 to 5 years: £68,000; 6 to 10 years: £94,000; 11 to 15 years: £140,000; 16+ years: £146,000. Most of the growth comes from moving up a level, so compare by role as well.
The median ACA qualified Chief Financial Officer earns £165,000 base, from 39 packages. Every Chief Financial Officer in the index, whatever their qualification, has a median of £165,000.
From permanent UK packages shared anonymously with The Finance Pay Index. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000, a figure needs at least 5 people and a range at least 10.
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