Management Accountant Salary in the UK: Hourly, Weekly and Annual Pay Guide

Understanding the Management Accountant Salary: Hourly, Weekly and Annual Pay

When researching a management accountant salary in the UK, it helps to look at pay from different angles: the statutory minimum wage that applies to all workers, the typical advertised salaries for the role, and the actual take-home pay after deductions. This guide brings together official ONS earnings data, recruitment salary surveys, and the latest government minimum wage rates to give you a clear picture.

Statutory Minimum Wage vs Professional Salaries

Every worker in the UK is entitled to at least the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage, depending on their age. From April 2026, the rates are:

• National Living Wage (age 21+): £12.71 per hour
• National Minimum Wage (age 18–20): £10.85 per hour
• National Minimum Wage (under 18): £8.00 per hour
• Apprentice rate: £8.00 per hour

These are the legal minimums. A management accountant salary is almost always significantly higher. The ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings shows that the lowest-paid 10% of management accountants earn under £23,274 per year, which is still well above full-time minimum wage earnings. The lowest quarter earn under £33,974.

Median and Mean Management Accountant Salary

The most reliable official data comes from the ONS, which groups management accountants under 'chartered and certified accountants' (SOC code 2421). For 2025 (provisional data), the figures are:

• Median annual salary (all employees): £45,538
• Mean annual salary: £50,563
• Full-time median: £50,062
• Part-time median: £28,719

These figures cover around 75,000 employee jobs in the UK. The median hourly rate for management accountants is £25.80 (excluding overtime), rising to £26.02 for full-time workers.

Regional Variations in Management Accountant Salary

Where you work makes a big difference. The ONS publishes median and mean salaries for five of the eleven GB regions:

Region	Median	Mean
London	£61,747	£62,676
South East	£52,294	£54,937
South West	£43,412	£43,105
East Midlands	£42,485	£40,815
Wales	£37,375	£38,732

Recruitment surveys from Accountancy Capital and Aspion provide more granular benchmarks. For example, a part-qualified management accountant in London might earn £38,000–£48,000, while the same role in the Midlands and North could be £29,000–£38,000. Senior management accountants in London can command £62,000–£85,000.

Experience and Career Stage

Your management accountant salary will rise as you gain qualifications and experience. Based on multiple salary surveys:

• Part-qualified (studying CIMA/ACCA): £28,000–£50,000 depending on region
• Newly qualified (0–2 years PQE): £37,000–£62,000
• Management Accountant (2–5 years PQE): £41,000–£72,000
• Senior/Lead Management Accountant (5+ years): £47,000–£85,000
• Group Management Accountant: £49,000–£90,000

Interim or contract management accountants can earn day rates of £180–£380, with London rates at the higher end.

Take-Home Pay Considerations

Gross salary is only part of the story. On the median management accountant salary of £45,538, the estimated monthly take-home pay (after income tax and National Insurance, using 2026/27 rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and excluding pension or student loan) is around £3,026 per month, or £36,307 per year. Income tax would be about £6,594 and National Insurance £2,637.

If you earn above £64,223, you are in the top quarter of the profession. The middle half of management accountants earn between £33,974 and £64,223.

How to Benchmark Your Salary

Because the title 'management accountant' can cover very different levels of responsibility, it's important to benchmark against role scope rather than just the job title. Some organisations use the term for roles that others would call 'finance manager' or 'commercial finance manager'. Always compare your duties, team size, and reporting lines.

For more detailed pay data, visit our pay guides and pay data pages. You can also explore related topics on our topics page.

Summary

The typical management accountant salary in the UK ranges from around £34,000 for entry-level roles to over £85,000 for senior positions in London. The official ONS median of £45,538 provides a solid benchmark, but your actual pay will depend on your qualifications, experience, region, and the specific demands of your role. Always check current statutory minimum wage rates and remember that advertised salaries often exclude bonus and benefits.