12 High Paying Careers in Finance in the UK, Ranked by Salary
A ranked list of 12 well-paid UK finance careers, from investment banker and corporate finance analyst to actuary and tax advisor, with pay at each stage and how to get in.
By Tony Musso on
The highest paying careers in finance in the UK are led by investment banking, where TonyKnows career data puts mid-career pay at around £100,000 to £200,000 plus bonus. Corporate finance, wealth management and energy trading come next, at around £75,000 to £110,000 mid-career, with senior pay that can reach £250,000 or more. Actuaries, finance managers and insolvency practitioners follow, with steadier, qualification-led routes to six-figure senior pay.
High pay in finance usually comes with a trade-off: long hours, tough professional exams, competitive entry or pay that depends on bonuses. The ranked list below sets out 12 finance careers so you can compare pay at each stage, then weigh it against the work and the route in.
The 12 best-paid finance careers in the UK
Careers are ranked by the midpoint of their mid-career pay range. Where two careers tie, the one with higher starting pay ranks first, then the one with higher senior pay. All figures are UK salaries from TonyKnows career data.
| Rank | Career | Starting | Mid-career | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Investment banker | around £55,000 to £75,000 + bonus | around £100,000 to £200,000 + bonus | around £300,000 to £1,000,000+ (MD level) |
| 2 | Corporate finance analyst | around £45,000 to £65,000 | around £75,000 to £110,000 | around £130,000 to £250,000+ |
| 3 | Wealth manager | around £45,000 to £60,000 | around £75,000 to £110,000 | around £150,000 to £400,000+ (including bonus) |
| 4 | Energy trader | around £45,000 to £60,000 | around £75,000 to £110,000 | around £130,000 to £250,000+ (with bonus) |
| 5 | Actuary | around £32,000 to £45,000 | around £60,000 to £90,000 | around £110,000 to £200,000+ |
| 6 | Finance manager | around £45,000 to £60,000 | around £60,000 to £85,000 | around £95,000 to £140,000 |
| 7 | Insolvency practitioner | around £28,000 to £40,000 | around £55,000 to £90,000 | around £100,000 to £200,000+ |
| 8 | Internal auditor | around £32,000 to £45,000 | around £55,000 to £80,000 | around £90,000 to £140,000 |
| 9 | Financial analyst | around £28,000 to £40,000 | around £50,000 to £80,000 | around £90,000 to £150,000+ |
| 10 | Credit analyst | around £32,000 to £45,000 | around £50,000 to £75,000 | around £85,000 to £130,000 |
| 11 | Tax advisor | around £35,000 to £45,000 | around £50,000 to £70,000 | around £80,000 to £150,000+ |
| 12 | Accountant | around £24,000 to £32,000 (trainee) | around £45,000 to £70,000 (qualified) | around £90,000 to £200,000+ (partner or CFO) |
What each career involves and how to get in
1. Investment banker
Investment bankers advise companies on raising money, mergers and acquisitions, and stock market listings. Juniors build financial models, prepare pitch materials and run valuations. The hours are the longest on this list, with 70 to 100 hours a week common at junior level.
Route in: a degree, with top universities preferred, usually through a summer internship that leads to a graduate analyst offer. Entry is very competitive. Our investment banker salary guide explains how pay and bonuses work at each level.
2. Corporate finance analyst
You model deals, mergers, fundraises and strategic investments, either in an advisory firm or inside a large company. The work is similar to investment banking but often with more manageable hours.
Route in: a degree is usually required, and many people move in after qualifying as accountants in audit or transaction services. TonyKnows career data puts the time to entry at around three to five years. See our corporate finance analyst career guide.
3. Wealth manager
Wealth managers look after investments and financial planning for wealthy individuals and families. The job combines investment knowledge, tax planning and long-term client relationships, and senior pay is boosted by bonuses linked to the clients you look after.
Route in: a finance or economics degree is preferred but not essential. Most people build up through investment administration, paraplanning or junior investment roles and take CISI or CFA qualifications, a route of around three to seven years.
4. Energy trader
Energy traders buy and sell electricity, gas and carbon allowances on wholesale markets. It is fast, numerate work on a trading floor, with pay that depends heavily on performance.
Route in: a STEM, economics or finance degree is preferred, often through a graduate analyst role at an energy company or trading house. Coding in Python helps. Our energy trading career guide covers the details.
5. Actuary
Actuaries use maths and statistics to price risk for insurers, pension schemes and large employers. The work is analytical and usually office or hybrid based, with normal hours compared with banking.
Route in: a degree, often in maths, statistics, economics or another numerate subject, then a trainee role with study support towards the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) exams. Qualifying usually takes five to eight years, and the exams are famously demanding. Some employers also offer actuarial apprenticeships.
6. Finance manager
Finance managers run the day-to-day finance function: monthly reporting, controls, budgets, forecasts and a team. It is a natural next step after qualifying as an accountant, and the route to financial controller and finance director.
Route in: usually a professional qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) plus several years' experience. TonyKnows career data puts the time to entry at around five to eight years.
7. Insolvency practitioner
Insolvency practitioners manage company insolvencies and personal bankruptcies under the Insolvency Act. The work involves investigating what went wrong, negotiating with creditors and recovering as much value as possible.
Route in: most people start in a restructuring or insolvency team at an accountancy firm, often after or alongside a professional qualification, and later take the JIEB exams to become licensed. The full route usually takes five to seven years.
8. Internal auditor
Internal auditors check that an organisation's controls, finances and processes work as they should. You report to senior management and the audit committee, and you see every part of the business.
Route in: many move across from external audit after qualifying. Others start in a finance or risk role and study with the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. It typically takes two to five years.
9. Financial analyst
Financial analysts analyse financial data to help businesses or investors make decisions, from forecasting and budgeting to investment research. Many roles are London-based.
Route in: a degree is usually expected, and this is one of the quickest routes on the list, with TonyKnows career data putting entry at up to two years. Strong Excel and modelling skills matter.
10. Credit analyst
Credit analysts decide whether to lend to companies or individuals, and on what terms. You read financial statements, score risk and write recommendations for lending committees.
Route in: a degree is often required, usually through a bank graduate scheme or a junior lending or risk role. See our credit analyst career guide.
11. Tax advisor
Tax advisors help individuals and businesses with UK tax planning, compliance and HMRC enquiries. It is detailed, technical work with steady demand.
Route in: a degree is preferred but not essential. Most people join a tax trainee scheme at an accountancy firm and study for the ATT and then the CTA, usually over three to five years. Tax apprenticeships are also common.
12. Accountant
Accountants prepare accounts, manage tax and help businesses run their finances properly. Pay starts lower than most careers here, but it rises steadily after qualifying, and senior pay at partner or CFO level matches many of the roles above.
Route in: a degree is not strictly required. You can train through a graduate scheme, an apprenticeship or AAT, then qualify with the ACA, ACCA or CIMA over three to five years. Our accountant salary guide and accounting qualifications overview explain the options.
Why some finance careers pay so much more
The top of this list is dominated by roles that are close to deals, markets or wealthy clients. Investment banking, corporate finance, wealth management and trading all earn their firms large fees or trading profits, and pay is partly linked to that through bonuses. That makes total pay high, but also less predictable from year to year.
The roles further down, such as actuary, internal auditor and tax advisor, are built on professional qualifications and long-term demand. Pay grows more gradually, but it is steadier, hours are often more manageable and the skills transfer between employers. If stability matters to you, our guide to high paying stable careers in the UK is worth a look.
Professional qualifications that raise your pay
| Qualification | Awarding body | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| ACA, ACCA, CIMA | ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA | Accountant, finance manager, internal auditor, corporate finance |
| CTA and ATT | Chartered Institute of Taxation, Association of Taxation Technicians | Tax advisor |
| IFoA exams | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries | Actuary |
| CFA | CFA Institute | Investment, wealth management, research and corporate finance |
| CISI qualifications | Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment | Wealth management, investment operations, compliance |
| JIEB | Joint Insolvency Examination Board | Insolvency practitioner |
Many employers pay for these qualifications and give study leave. Ask about support when you compare job offers.
Getting into finance without a degree
You do not always need a degree. Accountancy, tax, actuarial and financial services apprenticeships run from Level 3 up to Level 7, and some lead to the same professional qualifications as graduate schemes. Our guide to the best-paid degree apprenticeships in finance and law covers the main options.
If you are not sure which area suits you, Career Compass matches careers to your strengths and interests, and UK salaries by career lets you compare pay across hundreds of jobs.
Find your best-fit finance career Career Compass compares your strengths, interests and priorities with hundreds of careers, including the finance roles on this list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paying finance job in the UK?
Based on TonyKnows career data, investment banking pays the most, at around £100,000 to £200,000 plus bonus mid-career and around £300,000 to £1,000,000 or more at managing director level. Corporate finance, wealth management and energy trading follow.
Which finance careers pay well without long hours?
Actuary, internal auditor and tax advisor are well paid and usually have more regular hours than investment banking or trading. TonyKnows career data puts actuaries at around £60,000 to £90,000 mid-career and internal auditors at around £55,000 to £80,000.
Do you need a degree to work in finance?
Not always. Accountancy, tax and some actuarial and financial services roles can be entered through apprenticeships up to Level 7. Investment banking, corporate finance and actuarial graduate schemes usually expect a degree, often in a numerate subject.
Which finance qualification is worth the most?
It depends on the career. The ACA, ACCA and CIMA lead to finance manager and finance director roles, the IFoA exams to actuarial work, the CTA to senior tax roles and the CFA to investment and wealth management. Choose the one that matches the role you want.
How quickly can you earn six figures in finance?
In investment banking, TonyKnows career data puts mid-career pay, from associate level upwards, at around £100,000 to £200,000 plus bonus, so it can come within a few years of joining as an analyst. In most other finance careers on this list, six-figure pay usually comes at senior level, after qualifying and building several years of experience.
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