Finance careers offer an ideal wage, but at the cost of long hours.

A survey by Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for Robert Half Finance & Accounting reveals over a quarter of finance professionals are working more than they were two years ago.

But students and graduates will be comforted by their wage prospects as 84 percent of professionals in the industry are satisfied with their salary and benefits package.

A typical working week for a qualified CIMA professional is 44 hours per week. More than half surveyed said they work between 41 and 50 hours per week, 30 per cent work between 35 and 40 hours and just 4 per cent work less than 35 hours. More responsibility, new roles and understaffing are the causes of longer hours working.

While 84 percent said they are satisfied with their existing salary and benefits packages, almost a quarter cited the option of flexible working arrangements as an extremely important element. Just 37 percent are given the option of flexible hours by their current employer and a quarter would like to have more flexibility.

Phil Sheridan of Robert Half Finance & Accounting said: "Today's finance professionals are looking for flexible working arrangements and may look for career opportunities elsewhere to achieve greater work/life balance."