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Create CVIf you’re searching for “finance director UK salary”, you’re not just looking for a number. You’re trying to understand:
What Finance Directors actually earn across industries
How compensation differs between SME, PE-backed, and FTSE businesses
What separates a £110K FD from a £300K+ strategic finance leader
This guide breaks down real-world FD compensation, including salary, bonuses, equity, and how hiring decisions actually determine pay.
Finance Director salaries in the UK vary significantly based on company size, ownership structure, and commercial impact.
Typical base salary ranges:
£90,000 to £120,000 (SME / entry-level FD)
£120,000 to £180,000 (mid-market FD)
£180,000 to £300,000+ (large corporate / FTSE / PE-backed)
However, base salary alone is only part of the story.
Total compensation often includes:
Bonus (10% to 100%+)
Equity / share options
Long-term incentive plans (LTIPs)
£90,000 to £130,000 base
10% to 30% bonus
Limited or no equity
Reality:
This role is often operational-heavy, with less strategic influence.
£120,000 to £180,000 base
20% to 50% bonus
Occasional equity
Recruiter insight:
At this level, hiring managers expect , not just reporting accuracy.
£90,000 to £130,000
Often promoted internally
Limited external negotiation power
Recruiter behaviour:
Focus is on technical credibility + leadership potential.
£130,000 to £200,000
Strong negotiation leverage
Access to PE and larger roles
Key shift:
£150,000 to £250,000 base
50% to 100% bonus
Significant equity upside
Total comp potential:
Hiring reality:
PE firms hire FDs who can drive EBITDA growth and exit value, not just manage finances.
£180,000 to £300,000+ base
50% to 150% bonus
LTIPs and share-based incentives
Total comp often exceeds:
Key expectation:
Strategic influence at board level.
From “head of finance” to commercial business partner.
£200,000 to £300,000+
Equity participation
Board-level influence
Decision factor:
Ability to scale businesses and deliver exits.
Private equity-backed businesses
Technology and SaaS
Financial services
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Retail
Charity / non-profit
Public sector
Strategic insight:
Industry choice can increase salary by 50% to 200%.
Most candidates misunderstand this. Salary is not based on qualifications alone.
Can you:
Increase profitability?
Improve cash flow?
Support revenue growth?
Revenue size (£10M vs £1B+)
Team size
International exposure
Private equity = highest upside
Founder-led = moderate
Corporate = structured but capped
Finance Directors who influence:
CEOs
Boards
Investors
…earn significantly more.
SME: 10% to 30%
Mid-market: 20% to 50%
PE-backed: 50% to 100%+
In PE-backed businesses:
1% to 5% equity is common
Exit events can generate £500K to £5M+
This is where top FDs build wealth.
£110,000 base
20% bonus
Total: ~£130,000
Outcome: Stable but limited upside.
£150,000 base
40% bonus
Total: ~£210,000
Outcome: Strong income, moderate upside.
£180,000 base
80% bonus
Equity exit: £1M+
Outcome: High-risk, high-reward.
“Finance Director responsible for financial reporting and budgeting.”
“Commercial Finance Director driving EBITDA growth from £12M to £20M within 24 months through cost optimisation, pricing strategy, and operational restructuring across a £150M revenue business.”
Why this matters:
Recruiters screen for value creation
Hiring managers look for commercial impact
Strong positioning directly increases compensation
Private equity-backed companies
High-growth sectors
High-paying FDs:
Influence strategy
Drive revenue decisions
Partner with CEOs
Move from:
This alone can double salary.
Equity is the biggest wealth driver.
FDs with exit experience are:
Highly sought after
Paid significantly more
Recruiters look for:
Revenue scale
EBITDA impact
Leadership scope
Hiring managers assess:
Strategic thinking
Commercial influence
Stakeholder management
Can this FD grow the business?
Can they support an exit or transformation?
Will they influence the CEO and board?
Name: Sarah Mitchell
Location: London, UK
Role: Finance Director (Private Equity-Backed Technology Business)
Professional Summary
Strategic Finance Director with 15+ years’ experience driving financial performance and business growth across PE-backed and high-growth technology companies. Proven track record of scaling EBITDA, leading successful exits, and partnering with CEOs to deliver commercial strategy.
Core Competencies
EBITDA growth strategy
Private equity reporting
Financial transformation
M&A and exit execution
Board-level stakeholder management
Professional Experience
Finance Director – TechScale Ltd (PE-Backed SaaS Company)
2019 – Present
Increased EBITDA from £8M to £18M within 3 years
Led successful £120M exit delivering 4.2x return for investors
Implemented pricing strategy increasing margins by 12%
Built and led finance team of 20+ professionals
Head of Finance – GrowthTech PLC
2014 – 2019
Supported revenue growth from £40M to £120M
Delivered cost optimisation programme saving £5M annually
Led financial due diligence for acquisition activities
Education
ACA Qualified – ICAEW
BSc Finance – University of Warwick
Certifications
Advanced Financial Modelling
Leadership & Strategy Programme
Focusing only on reporting limits salary growth.
Higher rewards require calculated risk-taking.
Without measurable impact, salary progression stalls.
Weak CVs fail to communicate value creation.
Top earners:
Operate in PE-backed or FTSE environments
Focus on EBITDA and exit value
Build strong CEO and investor relationships
Position themselves as business leaders, not accountants
Key trends shaping salaries:
Growth in private equity investments
Increased demand for commercially-driven finance leaders
Rising importance of data-driven decision making
Expected outcome:
Higher bonuses and equity participation
Increased competition for top-tier FDs
Finance Director salary is not just about experience.
It’s about:
Business impact
Strategic positioning
Environment selection
The highest-paid FDs don’t just manage numbers.
They drive business outcomes.
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