Hybridge has been placing internal audit professionals in financial services firms for over 30 years. Every day we are asked the same question by candidates and clients alike: what should I be paying, or what should I be earning? This guide draws on our live placement data and market intelligence from 2025 and early 2026 to provide the most accurate picture of internal audit salaries in UK financial services today.
THE MARKET IN 2026
The internal audit recruitment market in financial services experienced a strong resurgence in Q4 2025 and into Q1 2026, with hiring activity at Hybridge significantly ahead of the broader market trend. After a subdued period through much of 2024, demand picked up sharply as firms that had been sitting on pent-up hiring needs began to act decisively, and Hybridge saw the benefit of that directly.
That momentum has paused in recent weeks as global factors have taken hold. Heightened geopolitical tensions following the US-Iran escalation have introduced a fresh wave of uncertainty across financial markets, prompting many firms to take a more cautious near-term stance on hiring. This is not unusual, senior internal audit recruitment has always been sensitive to macro conditions, and periods of geopolitical volatility typically produce a temporary pause rather than a structural shift.
Our expectation is that this is exactly that, temporary. The underlying demand for strong internal audit talent in financial services remains intact, and the pipeline of mandates we are seeing suggests that activity will resume as conditions stabilise.
That said, demand for specialists remains strong. Financial crime audit, compliance audit, technology audit, and cyber audit continue to attract significant interest from hiring managers, and candidates with these skills are commanding premiums over the ranges shown below. We are also seeing a gradual uptick in activity as firms with pent-up hiring demand begin to act, and we expect the second half of 2026 to be more active than the first.
For candidates moving roles, salary uplifts of 10–20% remain achievable for the right move. For employers, the market remains employer-led at most levels, with the notable exception of niche specialists, where competition for talent remains fierce.
2026 BASE SALARY RANGES
The following ranges reflect base salaries for permanent roles in London.
INVESTMENT BANKING
Senior Auditor | £60,000 – £85,000
Audit Manager (AVP) | £75,000 – £90,000
Senior Manager (VP) | £95,000 – £140,000
Director / Head of Audit | £140,000 – £200,000
MD / Chief Auditor (SMF5) | £200,000 – £400,000+
ASSET MANAGEMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Senior Auditor | £60,000 – £85,000
Audit Manager (AVP) | £75,000 – £105,000
Senior Manager (VP) | £85,000 – £130,000
Director / Head of Audit | £130,000 – £170,000
MD / Chief Auditor (SMF5) | £170,000 – £400,000+
INSURANCE
Senior Auditor | £60,000 – £80,000
Audit Manager (AVP) | £75,000 – £100,000
Senior Manager (VP) | £80,000 – £120,000
Director / Head of Audit | £120,000 – £160,000
MD / Chief Auditor (SMF5) | £160,000 – £300,000+
BONUS RANGES
The figures above reflect base salary only. Typical bonus ranges as a percentage of base salary:
Senior Auditor 10%, Audit Manager (AVP): 15–20% , Senior Manager (VP): circa 20–25% , Director / Head of Audit: 20–40% , MD / Chief Audit Officer: 50–150%+
At Managing Director and Chief Audit Officer level, total compensation including bonus and, where applicable, Long Term Incentive Plans (LTIPs) can significantly exceed the base salary figures shown.
Bonus payments in 2026 have been broadly flat year-on-year. Our experience is that employers are focused on base salary competitiveness rather than bonus uplifts in the current environment.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CANDIDATES
If you are an internal auditor considering a move in 2026, the market is more measured currently, but opportunities exist, particularly for specialists. Salary uplifts are still achievable for the right move, and career development has overtaken pure remuneration as the primary motivator for many senior professionals.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR HIRING MANAGERS
If you are building or strengthening your internal audit function in 2026, the market offers reasonable candidate availability at most levels, but specialist skills remain genuinely scarce. Structuring a competitive offer requires more than base salary: flexibility, career development opportunity, and the quality of the audit function itself all influence whether the best candidates choose your firm.