As investment management firms across Dublin begin to look ahead to 2027, compensation remains a critical part of attracting and retaining specialist talent.
But knowing whether a salary is genuinely competitive is not always straightforward. Job titles and responsibilities can vary significantly between firms, while seniority, company size, regulatory responsibilities and the overall remuneration package can all influence where an individual sits within the market.
To provide greater visibility, Coopman Search & Selection has produced its latest Dublin Investment Management Salary Benchmark Report, bringing together current salary and variable compensation benchmarks across key functions within the sector.
What does the report cover?
The report provides current Dublin market salary ranges across five core areas:
Financial & Risk Management
Including Chief Risk Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Investor Relations, Head of Fund Risk and portfolio risk positions.
Risk & Operational Risk Management
From junior and analyst-level positions through to Senior Risk Manager and PCF39-B Operational Risk roles.
Compliance & Onboarding
Covering positions from Compliance Analyst and Associate through to senior management, Designated Person, Head of Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer.
Finance & Accounting
Including part-qualified and newly qualified accountants, PQE benchmarks, Finance Managers, Financial Controllers and CFO positions.
Funds & Distribution
Including associate, management and Designated Person positions.
The figures cover both base salary and typical variable compensation, providing a broader picture of remuneration across the market.
A significant spread at senior level
One of the clearest themes within the data is the breadth of remuneration at senior and PCF level.
For example, current salary benchmarks within the report range from €180,000 – €250,000 for a Chief Risk Officer (PCF14), with variable compensation typically between 50% and 80%.
Chief Compliance Officer positions are benchmarked at €180,000 – €240,000, while Chief Financial Officer salaries range from €140,000 – €220,000.
That variation reinforces an important point for employers: benchmarking a position effectively requires more than matching a job title. Scope, regulatory accountability, organisational size and the individual required all play a part in determining an appropriate package.
Benchmarking beyond the most senior hires
The same principle applies throughout an organisation.
Within finance and accounting, for example, the report benchmarks salaries from €35,000 – €45,000 for part-qualified accountants, rising through newly qualified and post-qualified experience levels to €80,000 – €90,000 for Finance Managers.
Compliance Analyst salaries are currently benchmarked at €50,000 – €60,000, while Compliance Managers sit at €70,000 – €90,000.
For firms planning their 2027 headcount, having this visibility early can help ensure that budgets reflect the market they will actually be hiring into.
Salary is only part of the picture
Compensation remains important, but base salary alone rarely tells the whole story.
Variable compensation differs considerably by function and seniority. The report shows potential variable compensation of 50% – 80% for some of the most senior financial and risk positions, compared with lower percentages across many accounting, compliance and operational risk roles.
Employers therefore need to consider the competitiveness of the complete package rather than viewing base salary in isolation.
The same applies when it comes to retention. Understanding how existing employees compare with current market benchmarks can help identify potential discrepancies before they become a recruitment problem.
Request your personal copy
Whether you are setting budgets, planning new hires, reviewing existing remuneration or considering your own next career move, the Dublin Investment Management Salary Benchmark Report provides a useful benchmark for the current market.
Request your personal copy of the full report here: Investment Management Salary Guide 2026
By Mark Fallon, Managing Director - Coopman Search & Selection
