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Counted Salary Guide – Q4 2026
A finance-team-by-finance-team breakdown of who's earning what across the West Midlands right now - from sales ledger to finance director - plus the hybrid habits and benefits shaping every offer.
Explore the salary guideSix things shaping every hire this quarter
Counted's take on the forces behind the numbers - from where roles are going, to what a job title actually means any more.
The salary guide, by finance function
How pay actually breaks down inside each function - Counted's read on what separates the bottom of a bracket from the top.
What moves the needle on pay
Four factors that shift a candidate up or down a bracket regardless of role.
Geography
Birmingham city centre now carries a real premium - long journeys, scarce parking and the clean air charge all push salaries up. Rural areas pay less, but candidates there often value location over renumeration.
Academics
Qualified candidates typically out-earn "qualified by experience" peers by 10–25%. At junior level, a strong degree and A-levels can be worth up to 20% more.
Industry
Manufacturing, Financial Services and Technology backgrounds command a 10–15% premium - sector-specific experience simply shrinks the available talent pool. Care, ecommerce and logistics are the fastest-growing sectors to hire into right now.
Hybrid working
Hybrid is still the biggest single impactor on salary. Remote roles can pay less, as they make the lower salary up by being flexible. Most hybrid roles are now 3 days a week in the office. Companies wanting full time office attendance pay a 10–20% premium for the same talent.
The road from entry level to qualified
National Minimum Wage rose to £12.71 in April 2026 - worth £26,436 across a 40-hour week - and it's been dragging every bracket above it upward too.
How the Midlands finance team actually works
Fully flexible working is fading - but five-day office mandates are still the minority.
Days required in the office
Back to office
Employers that offered full flexibility are increasingly asking people back in - most visibly in junior and transactional roles. Five-day mandates are rising, but still rare.
Set hours vs flexitime
Hours are mixed
Most employers run some version of core hours rather than a strict 9–5. Strict schedules can be harder on working parents and more exposed to local traffic.
Where people say they're most productive
Productivity
The productivity debate isn't settled - but a mix of home and office days seems to bring the best of both, even if home alone tests as the single most productive setting.
Benefits
Average benefits, banded by base salary.
Hybrid working is the single most game-changing benefit on offer - and it's valued at every level of seniority.
Where do you sit in this market?
Whether you're weighing up a move or wondering if your team's packages still stack up, we're happy to talk it through.
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