Salary Survey Shows Boon Year for Finance and Banking Jobs

An Annual FSS finanial jobs market report points to sustained salary rises and increased headcounts

Despite the somewhat gloomy economic and financial predictions, according to the annual Salary Survey produced by leading financial recruiter FSS, 60% of organisations are planning to increase headcounts in 2008.

Within the commercial & industrial sectors, salaries for finance & accounting professionals have risen by up to 20% over the last year; FSS predicts that this will continue due to gaps in succession planning, growth strategies and more aggressive retention strategies by the competing Big Four accounting practices.

The Survey shows that while investment banks appear to be the most affected by the US-led credit crunch, there seems to be resilience across the private equity sector and those institutions dealing with emerging markets. In a drive to capitalise on this opportunity, candidates with a greater understanding of BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and Eastern Europe together with associated language skills will experience enhanced employability. On the operations side, many of the more complex senior roles have remained vacant throughout the past few years, which means that niche function teams are still understaffed.