National Benchmarks on Salaries and Benefits for Marketers and Business Developers in the Accounting Industry are Available from the Association for Accounting Marketing
Study Finds That Marketing Professionals Feel They Can Earn More Money in Other Industries
Forest Hill, MD (March 8, 2016) – The Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM), in association with Inavero, Inc., a market leader in client satisfaction surveys, is pleased to announce that benchmarking data is now available on salaries and benefits for marketers and business developers in the accounting industry. The findings of its national survey entitled Beyond the Paycheck: 2015-2016 Compensation Trends for Accounting Marketers is available from AAM (www.accountingmarketing.org).
"While three-in-four marketers working for accounting firms would strongly recommend their firm as a great place to work, compensation is a little disappointing for many,” according to Eric Gregg, CEO of Inavero. “Fewer than 30 percent of the respondents believe strongly they are paid fairly compared to their peers in other industries, even though most work on average more than 40 hours per week.”
"Ninety percent of accounting firm marketers are expecting a raise in 2016," added Gregg. "Yet the median expected gain in base salary will be a pretty modest 4 percent, slightly lower than the 4.9 percent HR departments report giving marketers at their firm in 2015."
Overall satisfaction with other elements of their job and the firm in general outweighs the frustration many respondents feel regarding their compensation. Only 10 percent of survey participants report an active interest in pursuing a new job in the coming year.
"This study removes the emotional aspect of salary negotiations,” adds Gregg. “It provides firms with a comprehensive set of salary benchmarks to base compensation decisions for marketing and business development professionals." If marketing professionals are wondering where this leaves them in the negotiations, Lauren Clemmer, Executive Director for the Association for Accounting Marketing, says, “The burden falls on the shoulder of marketers. If they want a salary increase, they will need to take a more strategic role in growing the firm.”
The full report on the research findings can be purchased (AAM members $150 and non-members $300) at www.accountingmarketing.org/publications/cpa-marketing-compensation. It includes detailed data on the general responsibilities of marketing and business development departments, as well as individual data by level on compensation, commission structurers, incentives, perks, and job responsibilities.