The Average Finance Director Salaries in the UK

Published:28 August 2025

As key strategic leaders, Finance Directors (FDs) play a vital role in every organisation—from financial strategy and governance to risk mitigation. It’s no surprise, then, that their compensation reflects the breadth and criticality of their responsibilities.

Last year, we we wrote about what you should expect as a current – or aspiring – finance director in 2024. Well, a lot can change in a year, so we’ve updated those figures for 2025.

Updated Salary Benchmarks for 2025

Overall UK average: Approximately £77,910 per year, according to Payscale.
Jobted report: A more optimistic £103,200 annually on average, with ranges spanning £48,730 to £160,000.
London-specific figures: Glassdoor indicates an average of £129,387, with common ranges between £97,172 and £177,153. Recruitment specialists Morgan McKinley estimate even higher brackets—from £90,000 to £180,000. And more focused regional data from the Northern Home Counties sets the FD range at £100,000–£150,000.

Typically, the higher end of the scale is found in complex, multi-entity operations, high-growth sectors, or where regulatory expertise is essential.

FD Salaries vs CEO Compensation

The FD role pays well—but still significantly less than senior C-suite peers, particularly CEOs:

FTSE 100 CEOs had a record-breaking median salary of £4.58 million in 2024–25.
Even AIM-listed company CEOs earn a median of £366,000, with CFOs among that group receiving around £263,000.

Meanwhile, the median FD salary remains in the low five figures—highlighting the substantial gap between FDs and executive pay in the UK.

UK vs US: An International Comparison

FD salaries in the US typically range from $160,000 to $198,000—often higher than UK equivalents. Factors such as cost of living, market structure, and corporate scale contribute to this disparity.

What About Charities?

For Charity Finance Directors, salaries are typically lower than in the corporate sector, but the demand for strong governance and financial stewardship is higher than ever—especially with SORP 2026 on the horizon.

The Bottom Line

2025 sees the UK FD average salary around £80,000, with London-based and senior roles frequently reaching beyond £125,000. Exceptional, strategic-focused FDs—especially in multi-entity or international-ﬁrm contexts—often command well into the six figures.

For Finance Directors seeking not only clarity on compensation trends but also support managing their role more strategically, Aedon.Accounting provides a modern, intelligent platform to help you measure impact and drive financial performance.