We’ve just released our Internal Audit Salary Survey and Market Report for Autumn 2012 aimed specifically at the financial services sector. With the changes going on in the Audit recruitment market this report makes interesting reading.

Internal Audit Salaries & Recruitment – London Financial Sector, Autumn 2012

[For a the full  survey follow:  Internal Audit Salary Survey and Market Report for Autumn 2012, otherwise the basic content can be found below.]

Contents

Market Overview

Vacancy Trends

Factors Affecting Career Moves

Salary Guide

Market Overview

“Significant increase in Audit vacancies”

Within the London Financial Services Internal Audit market the first half of 2012 has been reasonably buoyant, although the volume of vacancies decreased compared to the first half of 2011. Whilst corporate governance remains a relative safe haven, the uncertainty of the economic climate and increase in regulatory demands on banks and investment firms, still impinged on this market as the sector tried to control costs.

Overall the number of organisations making posts redundant decreased. However, we saw a number of houses implement a recruitment freeze early in the first half of the year. This was mainly due to changes in Audit leadership and department restructures associated with the change in management.

The second half of 2012 has already seen a significant increase in Audit vacancies compared to the same period in 2011 (although there was a noticeable slow down during the Olympic Games), with a particular requirement for more senior technically driven individuals with strong capital markets, regulatory and risk knowledge.

Vacancy Trends

“Markets Groups… seeing strong competition”

Capital Markets

As always, Sales and Trading Audit Groups are where we see the greatest competition for strong candidates. An interesting development has been with the number of banks bolstering or establishing Market Risk Audit functions. Compliance and Regulatory Audit continues to be buoyant while Commodities Audit has grown, which is not unexpected given the current state of global financial markets.

IT Audit

After seeing little activity in the first half of the year IT Audit has made a welcome return at the junior to mid level.

Asset Management & Private Wealth Management

Despite well publicised Funds going into administration, fraud cases concluding and a number of fund consolidations over the last few months, the number of Audit vacancies has remained steady since last year with a number of senior moves occurring during 2012.

Insurance

The challenge within general, life and Lloyd’s insurers continues to be regulatory change. The market has seen a number of senior moves, but key hires for auditors with strong operational knowledge have kept vacancies buoyant.

Retail and Corporate

The market continues to require strong junior level hires. Corporate banking has seen a recent increase in demand compared to last year. One of the bigger challenges for large retail groups has been the sell off and acquisition of branch offices while managing change programs as retail banks restructure assets and operations.

“Contract market… easing”

Contract

The ratio of contract versus perm roles has changed over the course of the year. Initially we saw a tightening of the Contractor market; however this appears to be easing as of this quarter.

Factors Affecting Career Moves

We have spoken to a number of individuals regarding motivations in relation to their career moves, and the results make for interesting reading.

The past year has seen some banks restrict promotions, salary increases and bonus pay outs while others have frozen these completely. The individuals we have spoken to expect this trend to continue into 2013. Perhaps unsurprisingly, we are seeing an increase in the number of candidates coming to market for the time of year.

“Salary uplifts of 15-20%”

 

Typically, compensation packages with hiring companies are reflecting this policy change. There is an increase in the core cash component either to base salary or base plus cash benefits. Traditionally uplifts of base cash compensation (including cash benefits) were around 10% and offers beyond 15% were considered to be a good uplift. In the current market we are seeing an increase in salaries of 15-20% as banks look to attract the best talent

 

From our discussions with those looking to make a career move, 58% cited lack of career progression as the top reason for making a change. Instability or concerns regarding role content or the company direction was cited by 28% as the reason for wanting a change and, finally, 14% were motivated chiefly by salary increase

 

Salary Guide**

Figures 2 & 3 show the results from our candidate surveys. We’ve included the original data sets under each graph as they include equivalent years of experience for each job title.

fig 2.

Internal Audit – Investment Banking

Job Title: Years Post Qualification Experience (PQE)*	Salary Range (£)
Analyst / Auditor: 0-1 years PQE	35 – 50000
Senior Auditor: 1-3 years PQE	50 – 65000
Assistant Vice President (AVP): 3-6 years PQE	65 – 80000
Vice President (VP): 6-8 years PQE	80 – 110000
Senior VP/Director (SVP): 8+ years PQE	100 – 135000
Executive Director (ED): 10+ years PQE	110 – 150000
Managing Director (MD): 15+ years PQE	130 – 170000

 

 

 

 

 

fig3.

IT Audit – Investment Banking

* Business Audit years are quoted in Post (Accountancy) Qualification Experience. IT Audit years quoted in Total Industry Experience.

**Please note that these surveys are based on mean values as there are instances where some salaries fall outside of the ranges. Please also bear in mind that different organisations have different compensation structures which were taken into account in gathering the data.

For a more detailed analysis please contact Craig Phipps or Paul Stanbridge on 0845 500 5253 or email us: [email protected]. or [email protected].

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To keep up with the latest market news follow our two new Linkedin networking groups (with the snappy titles):

• “Audit Professionals Career Network – Financial Services” for all internal audit financial services information for the perm market.
• “Financial Services Contractors and Interim Managers” for the contract market

 

LONDON

Fleet Search & Selection London
145/157 St John Street
London
EC1V 4PY
Main: 0845 500 5155
Mobile friendly: 0207 099 7180
Fax: 0845 527 1947
[email protected]

EDINBURGH
Fleet Search & Selection Edinburgh
Catchpell House
Carpet Lane
Bernard Street
Edinburgh
EH6 6SP
Main: 0845 500 5155
Mobile friendly: 0131 564 0050
Fax: 0845 527 1947
[email protected]

Vacancies continue to outnumber suitably qualified candidates.

Having come through a turbulent bonus season with poor performance from some banking groups, the market for corporate governance staff accelerated markedly in Q2. So the challenge remains for many Financial Services companies to secure and retain qualified and experienced staff that feel ‘the grass might be greener’ elsewhere.

As we enter the traditionally quiet summer period, the long-term signals are that recruitment volumes will remain high with strong demand for business audit candidates with front office product knowledge and Solvency II experience.

Technology Audit has seen more of an infrastructure bias in terms of client requirements in the first half of the year, however, we anticipate strong applications knowledge will come into focus for many hiring companies later on.

Despite the lack of roles at the start of the year and the relatively low recruitment levels in other market areas still being in evidence, the corporate governance market has remained resilient. Crucially, this implies that hiring companies are still keen to focus on developing the controls and risk arenas to ensure stability for future growth. We expect this current situation to continue throughout Q3.

While economic uncertainty is still present we have seen a continued interest from our clients in recruiting Internal Auditors, Risk Managers and Compliance staff in quarters three and four.

Job volume for Operational and IT Audit professionals increased throughout the first half of 2010. The
greatest demand for those with experience was in quarter one. Financial Auditors with specific industry experience (particularly in Equities and Fixed Income) remained the most in-demand skill sets during quarter two.

The Contract and Interim Management market has followed suit where candidates with strong markets experience were also in demand.

As the economy improved, demand across all levels increased from newly-qualified
Accountants to Heads of Function. The larger banks, in particular, were most active in hiring these candidates. Asset Management, Private Wealth Management and Insurance houses also increased their demand for Internal Auditors.

Recent economic problems have caused companies that have weathered the climate well to use their financial stability as a key selling point – candidates are often looking beyond the remuneration package on offer to other benefits, including long term promotion prospects and ability to learn new skills and products.

As we enter the latter stages of 2010, the recent low bonus rates and increased work load for many professionals will continue to motivate people in seeking alternative employment. If vacancy levels remain high after the holidays we expect to see more placements going into 2011.

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