Despite a more cautious economic outlook, salary expectations remain robust. The largest group of respondents expect pay increases of between 6% and 10%, suggesting many finance professionals remain confident that strong demand for experienced talent will continue to support earnings. While expectations have become more measured than during the post-pandemic hiring surge, few employees are anticipating stagnant pay.

The survey also highlights how little tolerance there is for salary freezes. With only 2% expecting no increase, employers offering below-market pay reviews risk sending an unintended message that their people are undervalued. In a market where experienced accountants, auditors and tax professionals continue to receive approaches from recruiters, this can quickly encourage employees to test the market.

For employers, remuneration remains one of the clearest indicators of how much they value their workforce. Competitive salary reviews, supported by meaningful bonuses and visible career progression, continue to play a critical role in retaining experienced professionals. While culture and flexibility matter enormously, falling behind the market on pay remains one of the quickest ways to lose good people.