I've resigned and been offered more to stay. Should I accept the counter-offer?

You'll often hear recruiters say that most people who accept a counter-offer leave within a year. We've never seen a reliable source for that, so we won't repeat it. What we can say is that a counter-offer is a big decision, and it deserves more than a reaction on the day you resign.

Ask yourself five questions

1. Why did I start looking?

Write it down before you think about the counter-offer. Was it money, or was it the work, the manager, the lack of progression, the commute, or a business that doesn't invest in finance?

2. Does the counter-offer fix that?

If you left for money and they've matched it, staying may be reasonable. If you left because there was no route to Financial Controller, a pay rise doesn't change the route.

3. Why now?

If your value was clear to them, why did it take a resignation for them to act? The honest answer to that tells you a lot about how the next pay review will go.

4. How will things feel in six months?

Your manager knows you were ready to leave. For some people that clears the air. For others it changes the relationship.

5. What am I giving up?

Think about the specific role you were offered: the scope, the team, the systems project, what you'd learn. That is the real comparison, not just the salary.

If you decide to stay

That's a legitimate choice. Get the changes in writing, agree dates for anything promised, and tell the new employer promptly and politely. Finance in the South West is a small market and you'll meet them again.

If you decide to go

Thank your employer, be clear the decision is made, and focus on a good handover. Being decisive and professional is what people remember.

Weighing up a counter-offer right now? Talk it through with us in confidence, or see our live finance roles.