By Emma McGrath, Senior Associate, Accounting & Finance
Why Year-End Compensation Conversations Matter
As year-end approaches, many professionals start thinking about compensation reviews. Whether you’re happy in your current role or considering new opportunities, these discussions are a crucial part of your career growth. For professionals, they’re not just about salary—they’re about recognizing your impact, understanding your market value, and setting the stage for future progression.
At Landing Point, our recruiters help candidates navigate these conversations confidently by providing real-time market insight, salary benchmarks, and negotiation strategies based on what we see across the industry.
In this short video, Emma McGrath shares how to prepare for your company’s upcoming compensation discussions and what resources are available to help you understand where you stand in today’s market.
[Emma McGrath, Senior Associate on Landing Point’s Accounting & Finance team, shares insights on how professionals can approach year-end compensation discussions and benchmark their market value.]
Key Takeaways
Be proactive: Even if you’re not looking to make a move, it’s important to understand what the market looks like before year-end.
Know your value: Leverage real compensation data—whether through your recruiter or your own research to guide informed discussions.
Prepare early: Start preparing for year-end conversations ahead of time so you can confidently articulate your contributions and expectations.
Lean on experts: Recruiters like those at Landing Point collect and analyze offer data throughout the year to help professionals benchmark compensation accurately.
Landing Point’s team regularly reviews market trends and salary data across accounting, finance, HR, and capital formation roles. This means you can walk into year-end discussions with the facts on your side, understanding what’s fair, what’s competitive, and what to ask for when it’s time to discuss compensation.
Even if you’re not exploring new roles, reaching out to your recruiter before year-end helps you stay informed and prepared. Understanding where your compensation stands not only positions you for productive conversations now but also sets a foundation for your future career goals.
Related reading: Q4 Conversations: Let’s Talk Year-End Bonuses
Ready to Benchmark Your Year-End Compensation?
Landing Point specializes in helping professionals navigate compensation discussions with confidence. Whether you’re exploring new opportunities or planning ahead for your next review, our recruiters can provide valuable insights into current market ranges and trends. Contact us to connect with a recruiter and learn where you stand in today’s market.
About Emma McGrath
Emma McGrath, CPA, is a Senior Associate on the Accounting & Finance team at Landing Point, specializing in executive search and finance leadership hiring across New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Texas. Emma has experience working at EY in Financial Services Audit and a Hedge Fund, working on Fund Accounting & Operations. She connects top finance talent with leading firms in private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, and real estate.
Notable searches include placing Big 4 auditors into FP&A, Finance Analysts, and Fund Accounting & Operations opportunities at dynamic venture capital and alternative investment organizations. Emma advises clients on compensation expectations, hiring trends, and candidate experience, while coaching early-career finance professionals on career pivot planning. Her approach blends analytical precision with empathy and long-term relationship building.
Emma graduated with a B.S. from the University of Scranton and an M.S. in Accountancy from SUNY Old Westbury. She spends her free time visiting family in Ireland, traveling through Europe, and enjoying Pilates and Barry’s classes around New York City.