Financial Directions - Pay, benefits and job loss top staff agendas.

(From Financial Director)

Pay and display

An Accountancy Age and Robert Half survey on salaries finds that accountants are securing more senior roles at a younger age. One in five survey respondents were aged between 36 and 45, and 44% of 26 to 35-year-old accountants are earning between GBP37,000 and GBP42,000. The results suggest that CIMA is rapidly becoming the accountancy qualification of choice. Only 8% of accountants under 25 hold an ACA, while 36% hold CIMA qualifications. www.accountancyage.com

Greenhouse effect

Over one-third of the UK's 600 largest companies expect to increase their level of corporate venturing activity over the next three years, but 53% said venturing would never be a part of company strategy, according to Greenhouse Ventures. Corporate venturing is a means of obtaining company growth through partnerships, where risks and rewards are shared. For large companies, this may mean an equity stake, licensing deal or access to new markets. www.greenhouseventures.com

Employee benefits

Research undertaken by MX Financial Solutions reveals that only 1% of employers feel their employees are happy with their current benefits package.