The Bonus Truth: Surveys Show Bonuses Within Segments of the Financial Services Sector may be More Modest Than Reported

LONDON, March 29, 2011 - Despite public scrutiny over bonuses offered at banking and financial
institutions, new research by recruitment specialist Robert Half and the
ICAEW shows that the wealth is not equally dispersed amongst employees.
According to the 513 ACAs surveyed from the banking and capital markets
sector, the median annual bonus was GBP16,000, much lower than what is
reported for front of house professionals within the sector. Only 9 per cent
of respondents earned over GBP100,000 in bonus remuneration.

Complementing these findings is an additional survey of Chief Financial
Officers (CFOs) within financial services. More than four in 10 (42 per cent)
CFOs plan to increase the bonuses of their finance and accountancy staff
within the first half of the year, and 56 per cent plan to maintain current
levels. When asked by how much, four in 10 (43 per cent) anticipate
increasing bonuses by 5-6%, followed by three in ten (29 per cent) who plan
to increase 7-10% over current levels.

Financial services CFOs were asked, "Thinking about compensation within
your finance and accounting department, in the next 6 months do you think
bonuses will":

    Increase       42%
    Stay the       56%
    same
    Decrease        0%
    Don't know      2%

"And how much, on average, do you anticipate increasing bonuses by in the
next 6 months?" Their responses:

    % increase    % response
    3-4%             21%
    5-6%             43%
    7-10%            29%
    More than 10%     5%
    Don't know        2%

"Finance and accounting professionals within the financial services
sector have played a critical role in driving business efficiencies and
improving controls following the crisis," said Neil Owen, director of Robert
Half Financial Services Group. "As organisations face a more stringent
regulatory environment, highly knowledgeable finance professionals can help
navigate changing compliance requirements, analyse data and provide a more
commercial outlook to the finance function."

Owen adds, "Many organisations are finding that they currently do not
have the resources to manage emerging initiatives and are therefore engaging
senior-level financial professionals on an interim basis. This cost-effective
strategy allows companies to address workload peaks and valleys without the
fixed cost of a permanent hire."

The Robert Half Professional Hiring Index (
www.roberthalf.co.uk/EMEA/United%20Kingdom/Press%20Releases/Documents/Robert%20Half-CFO-Hiring-Index-2011.pdf)
includes additional information on anticipated permanent and temporary
hiring, remuneration trends and confidence levels amongst UK CFOs.

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About the surveys

The fifth annual ICAEW/Robert Half Career Benchmarking Survey examines
salary and remuneration, recruitment and life cycle trends affecting ACAs.
Conducted by an independent research firm in the fourth quarter of 2010, it
includes responses from over 3,000 ACAs in business.

The Professional Hiring Index includes responses from 280 UK CFOs,
including 100 from the financial services sector. Conducted by an independent
research firm in January 2011, it provides a forecast on executives'
recruitment and remuneration plans as well as general workplace trends.

About Robert Half

Robert Half pioneered specialised recruitment services and today is the
world's leader in the field. Founded in 1948, the company is traded on the
New York Stock Exchange (symbol: RHI) and operates five separate divisions in
the UK, each serving distinct markets. They include: Robert Half Finance &
Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources, for temporary, permanent and
project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance;
OfficeTeam, for administrative support, Robert Half Financial Services Group,
for finance and banking professionals and Robert Half Technology, for IT
professionals.

There are more than 350 Robert Half locations in North America, South
America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information about
Robert Half please visit:

www.roberthalf.co.uk

www.roberthalf.co.uk

www.twitter.com/roberthalfuk

Kristie Perrotte, Kristie.perrotte at rhi.net, +44(0)2073312222