Finance Manager Recruitment in London
Morgan Spencer places qualified finance managers across London, from FTSE-listed businesses in the City to fast-growing companies in Canary Wharf and the West End. Finance managers in London earn £70,000 to £91,000 in 2026, and we build shortlists of ACA, ACCA and CIMA-qualified candidates matched to your team, sector and stage.
Finance managers we recruit in London
We place finance managers across the full seniority range, from those stepping up from a management accountant role to established leaders running a team of eight. The brief varies by business: a private-equity-backed company needs a finance manager comfortable with investor reporting and pace, while an established corporate wants controls, governance and month-end discipline. We match on both the technical skill set and the commercial fit, because a finance manager who suits a lean scale-up rarely suits a FTSE finance function, and the reverse holds too.
What finance managers earn in London
Finance managers in London command £70,000 to £91,000 in 2026, against a UK national range of £51,500 to £67,000, so the capital adds £18,500 to £24,000 to the same role. Qualification drives the top of that band, with most roles above £55,000 requiring a qualified accountant. Getting the benchmark right is what stops an offer stalling at final stage, and the full breakdown sits in what finance managers earn in London.
How we recruit finance managers
We work as a finance specialist, not a generalist with a finance desk. That means our consultants understand the difference between a management accountant, a finance manager and a financial controller, and assess candidates on the qualification, the sector experience and the commercial track record rather than a CV keyword match. Most of the strongest finance managers are already employed and not on job boards, so we reach passive candidates through a network built over years in the London market. Every shortlist is vetted, referenced and benchmarked against live pay data before it reaches you.
Finance roles we cover across London
Beyond finance managers, we recruit across the finance function: management accountants, finance business partners, finance directors and accounts support staff. For private-equity-backed portfolio companies we also place financial controllers for PE-backed London businesses, where investor reporting and pace matter as much as technical accounting. Whether the hire is permanent, temporary or a confidential replacement, we run the same specialist process across our finance and accounting recruitment desk.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a finance manager through an agency?
Expect a contingency fee of 15 to 25 percent of first-year salary, payable when the hire starts, with senior or confidential roles towards the higher end (Recruitly 2026). On a £80,000 finance manager that's roughly £12,000 to £20,000. The fee is negotiable on exclusivity or volume, and most placements carry a rebate if the hire leaves within an agreed early period.
How long does it take to hire a finance manager in London?
A specialist agency working an active brief typically shortlists within days rather than weeks, because the candidate network already exists. The longer variable is your own process, particularly notice periods, which run one to three months for qualified finance staff. We build that into the timeline at the brief so the start date is realistic from day one.
Do you place qualified accountants only?
No. We place qualified accountants holding ACA, ACCA or CIMA for roles that require them, which is most finance manager positions above £55,000, and part-qualified or qualified-by-experience candidates where the role and the business suit them. We match the qualification level to the brief rather than applying a blanket rule.
Hire a finance manager in London
Speak to Morgan Spencer to brief a finance manager role and see a shortlist of qualified, benchmarked candidates matched to your team and sector. We recruit across London, from the City and Canary Wharf to the West End.
