| Role | SME | Larger / group business |
|---|---|---|
| Management Accountant | £42k – £58k | £46k – £62k |
| Financial Accountant | £45k – £62k | £50k – £70k |
| Finance Manager | £52k – £70k | £60k – £80k |
| Finance Business Partner | £50k – £68k | £55k – £78k |
| FP&A Manager | £58k – £78k | £70k – £95k |
| Financial Controller | £60k – £85k | £75k – £110k |
| Head of Finance | £70k – £95k | £85k – £115k |
| Finance Director | £90k – £135k | £110k – £160k |
How we built these bands
- What they cover: qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) hires, permanent base salary, excluding bonus, car, pension and benefits.
- Where: the South West excluding Bristol: Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bath.
- When: compiled in October 2026 for hires in 2026/27.
- Sources: Gravitate's own placement and offer data, live 2026 South West job adverts, published 2026 salary guides, and ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (2025 provisional).
- SME vs larger: "larger / group" means multi-entity groups or bigger mid-market businesses, where scope and complexity are greater.
- Limits: evidence for Head of Finance roles in larger businesses is thinner than for other roles. Part-qualified and qualified-by-experience roles usually sit below these bands; Bath roles sit inside the bands; Cornwall and Plymouth roles tend to sit in the lower half.
A band is a guide to the market, not a quote. On a call we'll benchmark your specific role. Book a 30-minute call.
Free download
The South West Finance Hiring Guide 2026/27
Salary bands for eight finance roles, a two-week shortlist-to-offer plan and counter-offer advice, written by Eliot Acton.