Finance, Accounting Pay Rise

September 12, 2000 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Total cash compensation in finance and accounting jobs continues to rise steadily, if not spectacularly according to a new nationwide survey from William M. Mercer.

Topping the list of 30 most highly populated jobs was the 10.3% increase for assistant treasurer positions, but most registered more modest increases.

Most of the highly populated jobs in the 2000 Finance, Accounting & Legal Compensation Survey reported increases in total cash compensation (base pay plus short-term incentive) in the 2% to 5% range.

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The survey also noted a general trend toward variable pay as a means of providing additional compensation for these positions.

Survey Says

The survey found the following changes in median total cash compensation:

  • Chief Financial Officer  – up 2% to $317,300
  • Corporate Treasurer – up 1.5% to $180,300
  • Corporate Controller – up 4.7% to $171,600
  • Financial Analyst – up 3% to $45,900
  • Top Accounting Executive – up 8.6% to $126,100
  • Auditor – up 6.4% to $45,000
  • Cost Accounting Manager – up 2.6% to $76,100
  • Cost Accountant  – up 2.3% to $40,600
  • Payroll Manager  – up .02% to $62,700 
  • Top Corporate Legal Executive/General Counsel  – up 7.9% to $285,000

The 2000 Finance, Accounting & Legal Compensation Survey gathered data from 933 mid-sized and large corporations nationwide on base pay and short-term incentive levels for 120 jobs in the areas of finance, accounting, and legal.

The survey data represents pay levels for 63,325 employees in 1,663 locations across the US.

– Nevin Adams              editors@plansponsor.com

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