Figures released yesterday by FD Recruit into financial director (FD) salaries showed average basic pay across all regions and sectors of £80,000 to £130,000.
Recent data compiled for HR magazine by indeed.co.uk showed HR director salaries started at £75,000, reaching £125,000 for the top jobs.
Nicola Grimshaw, CEO of HR recruitment agency Oakleaf Partnership, HR magazine these figures seemed low based on her experience.
She said some HR directors she had recently recruited had been offered over £140,000.
"Some people may be surprised that HR directors are on an even footing with FDs now," she said. "One of the main reasons for the increase is that HR directors are now very often on the executive boards of companies. Ten or so years ago this wasn't very often the case."
The FD Recruit survey also showed FDs are increasingly returning to traditional remuneration rather than fringe benefits. In London only 24% claimed car allowance, with the others claiming the money was incorporated into their main salary.
Overall, basic salary made up on average 75% of the total reward package for FDs. Bonus accounted for 15%, pensions 7.5% and other benefits 2.5%. Overall packages showed no significant increase in the last 12 months. Almost 90% saw either no increase at all or an increase of up to 5%.
