Finance & Accounting hiring trends, hot jobs & top salaries: 2025

For the past several years, a finance and accounting hiring trend we have seen is record numbers in both turnover and compensation, and they still rank as one of the three highest-paying professions in 2024.¹ While companies are still looking for top talent, the previous years’ scramble to fill job openings at any cost is over. Today, both industry employers and candidates are holding tight – not wanting to make a move until everything is perfect.

That’s concerning considering there is still a shortage of financial professionals, especially in fields like banking and accounting, due to fewer students majoring in the field, career switchers, and a massive wave of retirements.² Seventy-six percent of US CFOs say they are facing a significant talent shortage within their finance and accounting teams.³

Candidates who are looking for new opportunities benefit from the demand with highly competitive salaries and bonuses.⁴ However, Addison Group is seeing culture and benefits are becoming much more valued than in the last couple of years.

Calculating culture into hiring

That hiring hesitancy is likely due to both the economy and the recent finance hiring frenzy. With the turbulent market, companies have been waiting to see what happens and holding off on backfilling certain positions like financial planning & analysis and contract roles. However, if interest rates continue to decline and investments increase, companies should begin to fill these roles again the rest of this year and into 2025.

“We are seeing particular demand for financial professionals in hot industries such as energy and hard manufacturing, especially those with new technology.”

Jay Houston – President, Finance & Accounting, Addison Group

Some employers who experienced buyer’s remorse with rushed hires that didn’t work out are also moving slower through the interview process, sometimes including more than six interviews. Some candidates who jumped to higher-paying positions found that their new employers were not the right culture fit.

Companies facing a tight market may need to re-evaluate their interview processes and timing to keep top candidates engaged. They will also need to pay more attention to marketing their culture, from benefits like health and wellness programs and pet insurance to extended PTO. Despite many finance workers being called back to the office, flexibility is still key for candidates. More candidates are accepting hybrid schedules when they can get them, and total remote jobs are rare now.

In return, candidates will need to ensure they are coming to the table with the skills that companies need today, more often, that means being tech-savvy.

Tech transformation

There’s been a lot of excitement and some worry about how tech and AI will impact finance jobs. It’s all justified, and we’re just at the tip of the technology iceberg. AI is already transforming finance roles by automating routine tasks and streamlining business processes. Industries like banking and insurance are two that will be heavily impacted by the shift.⁵ From financial analysts to accounts payable roles, candidates will need to embrace new tools and be ready for continuous learning as technology evolves.

In-demand roles

• CFO
• Accounts Receivable
• Staff and Senior Accountants
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Reporting/Technical Accounting

Highest-paid Finance and Accounting salaries

Title	National averages
CFO	$276,265
VP of Finance	$251,088
FP&A Director	$241,544
Chief Accounting Officer	$240,130
Internal Audit Director	$238,414
Tax Director	$231,971
Financial Director	$210,483
Accounting Director	$197,636
Controller	$194,814
FP&A Manager	$189,537
Tax Manager	$186,996
Internal Audit Manager	$178,835
Director of Lease/Revenue Recognition	$176,091
Accounting Manager	$148,349
Lease/Revenue Recognition Manager	$147,646

For more valuable insights and national averages of salaries across hundreds of roles in administrative, digital marketing, finance, accounting, healthcare, human resources, and information technology, download your free copy today.

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