What are the typical starting salaries and job roles I can expect in the UK after completing a Master's in Commerce and gaining two years of work experience?

Two years of prior work experience means you should target early-career finance roles rather than treating yourself as a fresh graduate applying to entry-level positions alone.

Typical Roles and 2026 Salary Bands

• Assistant or Management Accountant: Roughly £28,000 to £42,000, covering month-end accounts, reconciliations and management reporting.
• Financial Accountant: Roughly £35,000 to £50,000 or more, focused on financial statements, reporting and compliance.
• Financial Analyst or FP&A Analyst: Roughly £40,000 to £55,000, covering forecasting, budgeting and financial modelling.
• Audit or Tax Associate: Roughly £30,000 to £45,000 or more, depending on the firm and specialisation.

Robert Half's 2026 UK data places Assistant Management or Financial Accountant roles at £27,500 to £38,250, with a £33,000 midpoint, and FP&A Analyst roles at £45,500 to £59,000.

Why Your Qualifications Matter as Much as Your Degree

Progress toward ACCA, CIMA or ACA meaningfully strengthens your positioning for Management Accountant or Financial Analyst roles beyond what the master's alone provides. A commerce master's plus completed ACCA papers plus strong Excel or Power BI skills is a noticeably stronger file than the degree in isolation.

The Visa Detail That Changes Which Roles Work

The UK's Graduate visa lets eligible master's graduates work without employer sponsorship for 2 years if applying by 31 December 2026, or 18 months after. Sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa needs a salary of £41,700 or the role's going rate, whichever is higher, so a £30,000 to £35,000 role may suit your Graduate visa period but may not qualify for later sponsorship.

This Information Is Also Available On

Robert Half's 2026 UK Finance and Accounting Salary Guide and UK Government's Skilled Worker visa salary requirements.

My Advice

Target roles above the Skilled Worker salary threshold in your final Graduate visa months if long-term UK sponsorship matters to you, rather than optimising purely for the highest immediate offer. In my experience, candidates who start ACCA or CIMA papers alongside their master's, rather than after starting work, reach Finance Manager pay bands noticeably faster.