Comment on ONS salary data, accountancy salaries and the shrinking gender pay gap

Comment on ONS salary data, accountancy salaries and the shrinking gender pay gap

Dave Way, managing director of accountancy and finance recruiter Marks Sattin said: “Even though the average accountant’s salary has risen more slowly than inflation, a 2.1% rise during the year is a very strong performance relative to other professions. Lawyers, for instance, have seen their salaries rise this year by only 1.2% and the salaries across the UK have risen by only 1.4%. Our research shows that accountants are among the most pessimistic of all professionals when it comes to their future earning prospects, but the figures show they have a great deal to feel good about.  

“2011 has been a great  year  female accountants, whose salary growth of 2.2% is the driving force behind the good performance across the industry this year. In only 12 months, the gap between male and female salaries in accountancy has dropped from 34% to 25%, which is heading in the right direction. Employers have made a concerted effort to ensure female accountants have been given full opportunity for promotion and this has had a big impact on pay equality. Of course, there’s a long way to go, but the industry should reflect that 2011 has been a very positive year in more ways than one”.