Salaries and Costs
Recruitment agencies and staffing agencies place treasury accountants at a range of pay levels, with salaries shaped by size of business, sector, and systems exposure. Assistant and analyst posts often sit near £30,000 to £40,000, a qualified treasury accountant tends to land between £45,000 and £60,000, senior hires rise to £60,000 to £75,000, managers and leads can top £80,000 in complex groups. Temp agencies quote day rates that reflect qualification and remit, part qualified contractors often sit near £200 to £350 per day, qualified specialists with hedge accounting or cash pooling skills see £400 to £650. Recruitment fees for permanent hires commonly fall in the mid teens to low twenties percent, agency costs for temps include pay rates, holiday pay, employer NI, and the apprenticeship levy, so ask recruitment consultants to set out the full charge rate early.
Qualifications
Most employers favour ACA, ACCA, or CIMA for core accounting strength, with AMCT from the Association of Corporate Treasurers seen as a mark of depth in cash, funding, FX, and risk. Employment firms often screen for IFRS knowledge, hedge accounting under IFRS 9, and strong internal controls for audit readiness. Systems that raise interest include Kyriba, Quantum, SAP TRM, Oracle, NetSuite, and strong Excel or Power BI. Executive search teams note that banking portal fluency, ISDA awareness, and clear treasury policy writing all add weight to a CV.
Regional & Geographic Variations
Pay and demand vary across the UK labour market, with finance hubs drawing candidates who prefer hybrid patterns and quick commuter links. Local employers near major business parks may prioritise on site cover for cash operations, while groups with dispersed sites lean on remote workflows and strong handover notes. Recruiters will discuss market reach for your postcode, and will flag where relocation or a wider search could help retention.
Hiring Challenges
Businesses want cash forecasting that stands up to scrutiny, clean bank reconciliations, and governed payment runs. Candidates who can model liquidity, manage debt covenants, and handle multi currency exposure are in short supply. Recruiters report that projects such as TMS roll outs and bank mandate refreshes pull talent from BAU, which can slow hiring. For employers, a clear brief, transparent recruitment fees, and quick interview steps help you hire staff before competing offers land.
Roles and Career Paths
Treasury teams cover front, middle, and back office tasks, and recruitment agencies place across this mix. Common job roles include assistant treasury accountant, treasury analyst, cash and banking accountant, treasury accountant, liquidity analyst, FX and dealing support, treasury risk analyst, and treasury manager. Progression often moves from reconciliations and payments, into forecasting and controls, then into funding, policy, and leadership, with executive search handling heads of treasury or group controller links.
Entry Requirements
For entry posts, employers look for strong numeracy, Excel confidence, and attention to controls. Graduates or AAT students can step into assistant roles, then study toward ACCA or CIMA, and later AMCT. Recruiters and recruitment consultants advise candidates to register with an agency that knows treasury, bring clean references, and be ready to explain cash cycle steps, from bank feeds to approvals.
Regulatory and Compliance Standards
Companies that report in the UK need treasury processes that align with audit expectations, segregation of duties, and documented bank access. Groups with US listings often reference SOX style controls. Hedge documentation and effectiveness testing sit under IFRS 9. Payment security, KYC on banking changes, and user access reviews are common themes that recruiters will probe during shortlisting, since they shape retention and reduce risk.
Temporary, Permanent, and Contract Work
Staffing agencies run temporary, permanent, and contract work for treasury teams. Temp cover handles month end spikes, audit queries, and project backfill. Fixed term or contract roles often appear during TMS implementation, cash pooling, or refinancing. Permanent hires suit control heavy teams that want continuity and low turnover. Local employers often start with a temporary solution, then convert to permanent once fit and pay rates line up with budget.
Key Sectors and Employers
Treasury accountants sit in listed groups, private equity backed companies, mid market corporates, and public sector bodies with large cash books. Recruiters cover manufacturing, retail, energy, tech, healthcare, and financial services. Businesses with multi entity structures or global bank accounts value candidates who can handle netting, intercompany, and covenant reporting, and recruitment agencies will surface these profiles from active and passive pools.
Market Snapshots and Retention
Interest rate moves keep cash forecasting under the spotlight, so candidates with scenario planning skills and bank relationship polish gain traction. Employers are competing for AMCT talent, and flexible hours, study support, and clear progression help retention. A short and honest process wins candidates, with early clarity on salaries, pay rates, bonus triggers, and agency costs reducing fall through. Jobseekers appreciate timely feedback, and local businesses that give it tend to secure stronger hires.
Hard To Fill Positions
Roles that blend hedge accounting with system ownership are hard to fill, so recruitment agencies may suggest a contract start while an executive search runs in parallel. In house banking, cash pooling across many jurisdictions, and debt issuance support can narrow the pool. Be open on must haves, and where training can close gaps, this widens reach and helps find employees with the right mindset.
Quick FAQs
Do I need AMCT for a treasury accountant role. Not always, but it helps for progression and can lift salaries. How fast can recruiters fill a gap. Temp agencies can often supply within days, permanent searches vary with notice periods. How do I register with an agency. Send your CV, confirm your right to work, and be ready to outline your remit and systems. Can agencies help with pay benchmarks. Yes, recruitment consultants track the job market and will compare offers against current ranges across the workforce.
Final Note For Employers And Candidates
Use treasury accountant recruitment agencies when control, cash, and risk matter. Employers can hire staff quickly with clear briefs and budgets, candidates and jobseekers can register with an agency that speaks their language, and both sides gain from a steady, well run process.