Accountancy pay has risen by 7% over the past year according to a report from industry recruiter Marks Sattin.

Salary growth was 5%, up from £60,788 the previous year to £64,022 in 2012/13.

In addition to this, the average accountants' bonus was £11,012, exceeding their own pre-bonus season expectations by £1,409. Accountants, on average, expected a bonus of £9,603.

When questioned in November 2012, accountants expected 15% of salary as a bonus. However the actual average is substantially higher at 17.2% of salary. This also represents a marginal rise on the 16.9% seen the previous year.

Satisfaction with bonus levels rose from 65% in 2011/12 to 70% in 2012/13.

Dave Way, managing director of Marks Sattin said: 'These figures are a huge boost for accountants and offer proof of the resilience of accountancy as a profession. In tough financial circumstances, companies have a stronger focus on their purse strings. Obviously accountants aren't immune from the gloomy economic news, hence their understated bonus expectations, but the news is actually very good for them - these figures represent the third year in a row of solid, above inflation, pay growth.'