London, UK, 4th June 2025 - Spendesk, the AI-powered spend management and procurement platform, has released its annual Salary Benchmark Report conducted with Europe's largest finance community, CFO Connect. The 2025 study examined salaries of finance professionals across the UK, Europe and the US. It surveyed over 600 finance professionals across multiple markets, revealing troubling developments in the UK finance sector.
Key findings:
The gender pay gap in the UK has widened significantly, with men earning 35% more than women (up from 24% in 2024).
UK finance salaries have decreased by 3%, reversing the upward trajectory of previous years.
Now fewer than 7% who believe that the arrival of AI is overrated or unlikely to have any major impact.
Nearly 40% of respondents sit on the fence, predicting both positive and negative effects of AI on finance teams’ work.
92% believe that software and technology skills will be essential for career advancement.
Gender pay gap in UK finance widens alarmingly
The study found that women working in finance in the UK earn on average £90,068 / €107,000 compared to their male counterparts who are earning 35% higher at £128,431 / €152,500. This represents a significant deterioration since the 2024 report, when the gap stood at 24%.
This growing disparity places the UK as the second-worst performing country for gender pay equality among those surveyed, behind only Germany (40%), while some markets like France have managed to narrow their gender pay gap to 12% this year. What makes this trend particularly alarming is that it has occurred despite an overall reduction in UK finance salaries of 3%, with Germany seeing a 6% decrease, while France and the US have bucked the trend with 9% and 8% growth respectively compared to last year.
The pay disparity becomes even more pronounced at higher levels of seniority, with male CFOs globally earning 22% more than their female counterparts, and the pattern is consistent across most finance roles, with male Finance Directors earning 18% more. This pattern escalates with age—beginning at 8% for professionals aged 18-30 and widening to a profound 29% gap for those aged 41-50. The repercussions for talent retention are becoming clear: 28% of women in finance are actively seeking new roles specifically to secure fair compensation, creating a significant risk for organizations failing to prioritize pay equity in their talent strategies.
Commenting on the findings, Rodolphe Ardant, Founder of Spendesk, said:
The latest data from our annual CFO Salary Benchmark reveals concerning trends in pay equity across UK and European finance. The UK’s widening gap is especially troubling, while for EU companies—who, in one year’s time, must be implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive—there is a long way to go
Rodolphe ArdantThe research also shows that average UK finance professional salaries have declined by 3% from the previous year, down to £102,324 / €121,500.
Other findings in the survey include:
UK CFOs earn an average of £149,623 / €177,663 in 2025 with salaries ranging from £69,900 to £274,548 (€83,000 to €326,000).
Company size continues to impact compensation, with finance professionals in companies of 1-50 employees earning 47% less than those in companies with over 5,000 staff.
49% of UK finance professionals are considering looking for new roles in the next year.
Focusing on the CFO salaries specifically, UK salaries have remained relatively stable, increasing slightly to £149,623 / €177,663, positioning them ahead of their German counterparts £145,090 / €172,283 but still well behind CFOs in the US £196,468 / €233,283.
The study also revealed shifting attitudes toward job mobility, with 49% of UK finance professionals likely to look for new roles. The primary motivations cited were salary expectations (24%) and desire for new challenges (25%).
Regarding technology adoption, the research found that 52% of finance professionals are enthusiastic about AI's potential impact on their work, with only 7% believing that the arrival of AI is overrated or unlikely to have any major impact. Nearly 40% of respondents maintain a balanced perspective, anticipating both positive and negative effects of AI on finance teams' work. Over 92% believe that software and technology skills will be crucial for job advancement and salary negotiations in the future.
Speaking on technology's transformative role, Rodolphe Ardant added:
The finance profession stands at a technological crossroads, with the striking contrast between market uncertainty and technological optimism. Professionals are embracing technology not just as a productivity tool, but as a career differentiator. However, the significant proportion of respondents expressing mixed feelings suggests that the industry is still navigating the balance between opportunity and challenge. In my experience, it reveals how the finance professionals who will thrive aren't those simply waiting for market conditions to improve, but those actively developing the technological capabilities that will make them invaluable strategic partners to their businesses, regardless of economic climate.
Rodolphe ArdantThe full results of the study can be found HERE.