There's a moment that every hiring manager dreads. You've found the right person for your job vacancy. They have the experience, the attitude, and the potential to make a real difference to your business. You put together what you think is a solid offer, and then... they go elsewhere. Not because of the role, not because of your company, but because a competitor had a better offer.
It happens more often than people realise, and in the finance, accounting and executive space right now, it's happening a lot.
The Venture team speaks to hiring managers and finance professionals across the South Coast every single day. One of the most common reasons we see great candidates lost to competing offers is straightforward: the salary and benefits package didn't reflect what the market is actually paying.
Why Getting Salaries Right Has Never Mattered More
The market for skilled finance professionals is competitive. Whether you're looking to hire a management accountant, a financial controller, a finance director or a C-suite executive, you're operating in a landscape where strong candidates rarely sit still for long. They know what they're worth — and they have options.
Inflation, shifting expectations around flexible working, and the ongoing demand for commercially-minded finance professionals have all moved the goalposts over the last couple of years. What felt like a competitive package in 2023 might not cut it in 2026. If your salary benchmarks haven't kept pace with the market, you risk losing great people before you've even had the chance to win them over.
Introducing Our 2026/27 Finance, Accounting & Executive Salary Guide
Our salary guide is one of our most sought-after resources and has been assisting clients with their recruitment efforts for 11 years.
Built on our in-depth knowledge of the South Coast market and live placement data, the guide gives you a clear, up-to-date picture of what professionals across finance, accounting and executive functions are earning right now. From newly qualified accountants through to CFO-level appointments, it covers the full spectrum of roles — so wherever you're hiring, you've got the data to back your decisions.
What It Means For You as a Hiring Manager
Practically speaking, the 2026/27 Salary Guide will help you in a few really important ways:
Build competitive salary offers from the outset, so you go to market with a package that stands up to scrutiny
Support internal pay reviews, helping you retain the talent you already have
Reduce time-to-hire by removing the guesswork from the negotiation process
Avoid the costly mistake of losing a first-choice candidate to a competitor at the final hurdle
And If You're a Finance or Accounting Professional...
The guide is worth a look for you, too. Whether you're thinking about your next move, heading into a pay review, or simply want to understand where your salary sits against the wider market, it gives you a solid benchmark to work from.
Download the 2026/27 Salary Guide
Don't let a preventable salary gap cost you your next great hire. Download our Finance, Accounting & Executive Salary Guide today — it's free, practical, and could make a real difference to how you approach your next hire.
Want to talk it through with one of our specialist consultants? We're always happy to have that conversation. Get in touch with the team today.