SAP FI/CO recruitment: Profile, S/4HANA & Salaries 2026

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Does SAP have a future in finance?

In many finance departments in the DACH region, the strategic question arises as to whether there is still no alternative to SAP in finance. Despite new market entrants, the SAP FI/CO (Financial Accounting and Controlling) module remains the central backbone in the enterprise segment. A major reason for this is the immense pressure caused by the impending end of maintenance for existing core systems: SAP is ending regular maintenance for SAP ERP 6.0 (ECC) at the end of 2027, although a paid extension until 2030 is possible. This deadline is forcing CFOs and IT directors to take action in order to maintain business operations and compliance.

The figures clearly show that the transition is not a question of if, but when. According to a survey by DSAG and IT-Onlinemagazin, 16 per cent of companies already use S/4HANA exclusively, 21 per cent have migrated parts of their landscape and 14 per cent have started the migration; a further 37 per cent are in the planning phase. For large corporations and upper mid-sized companies, the platform forms the basis for automated consolidation, real-time reporting and global compliance. Especially in complex S/4HANA-Projekten, finance managers rely on the deep integration of the solution into existing business processes.

At the same time, the market for enterprise software in Germany is experiencing stable growth. Revenue in the German ERP market was around 2.13 billion euros in 2022 and is expected to rise to around 2.67 billion euros by 2027. Investments are primarily flowing into modernising the financial architecture in order to map new regulatory requirements and automated accounting processes.

• Real-time financial reporting: The S/4HANA data model enables direct analysis without time-consuming batch runs.

• Compliance with complex compliance standards: Integrated control for international accounting and local tax requirements.

• Guaranteed future viability: Long-term product roadmap from the manufacturer well beyond the year 2040.

• Seamless department integration: Direct linking of financial flows with logistics, sales and human resources.

Alternatives to SAP FI/CO: Is it worth switching?

In view of high migration budgets, some companies are evaluating alternatives in the ERP market. Well-known competitors such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance or Workday Financial Management position themselves as agile solutions for specialised use cases. Globally, the market for ERP applications is highly fragmented: SAP and Oracle have been locked in a head-to-head race for the top spot for years, and the ten largest providers together account for only around a quarter of the global market. In the DACH region in particular, however, SAP is significantly more widespread among manufacturing companies, financial service providers and logistics groups.

A system change away from SAP entails significant risks for established corporations. While agile SaaS solutions can score points in the midmarket, they often fail in the enterprise environment due to the required process depth. Anyone attempting to replace SAP FI/CO with isolated solutions risks creating new data silos and high interface costs. The strength of S/4HANA lies in the continuous connection of all value-creation stages, from procurement and manufacturing to financial reporting.

For most established companies, staying in the SAP world is therefore more economically sensible than a complex system replacement. The challenge rarely lies in the technology itself, but in the availability of qualified professionals who master both the accounting processes and the customising in S/4HANA.

Salary and daily rate benchmarks for SAP FI/CO

The high demand for FI/CO specialists combined with a tight supply is directly reflected in the compensation structures in the DACH region. In Germany, the industry association Bitkom counts 149,000 unfilled IT positions, and in the SAP environment, the shortage of skilled labor is even more pronounced: system integrators openly warn of project halts because no SAP consultants are available. This leads to above-average vacancy times, as an IT position remains vacant for an average of 7.7 months.

Our current market data for 2026 shows how much the salary spectrum varies depending on experience level and type of employment. Those looking for senior experts for in-house roles or leadership positions must offer market-rate conditions to encourage a willingness to switch. For detailed comparisons, our analyses of SAP-Consultant-Gehältern provide reliable guidance.

In view of these salary ranges, a classic job advertisement is no longer enough. Passive candidates who are not actively looking for jobs can only be won over for a new project through targeted direct contact and transparent offers.

Successfully filling SAP FI/CO roles in 5 days

To bypass the empty candidate market and lengthy vacancies, departments and HR teams need newly designed recruitment processes. Conventional recruitment agencies often send large numbers of unsuitable CVs, which ties up internal capacity. Our approach eliminates this CV noise through a two-stage screening process consisting of an in-depth technical check and a culture match, led by specialised partners on an equal footing.

With our Permanent Recruitment service, we put the first qualified shortlist on your desk within 5 working days. In addition, a 90-day guarantee protects your investment in permanent hires: we bear the financial risk and refill the position free of charge should an employment relationship end unexpectedly early. If immediate support is needed for an urgent transformation project, our Freelance & Contract Recruitment service provides vetted experts within 48 hours, including compliance and disguised self-employment checks.

1. Requirements analysis & profile sharpening: Precise alignment of the technical stack (S/4HANA, FI, CO) and team culture.

2. Direct contact within the specialist network: Access to over 1,500 pre-qualified SAP specialists in the DACH region.

3. Two-stage expert screening: Validation of deep technical knowledge and personal suitability.

4. First shortlist in 5 working days: Delivery of a maximum of 3 to 5 highly precise candidate profiles.

5. Guaranteed security: 90-day guarantee for permanent placements and legally compliant processes for contractor assignments.

Instead of waiting 5 months for suitable reinforcement in the finance area, with Recruiting-Strategien im Mittelstand you achieve immediate security of action for your S/4HANA projects. As a boutique recruitment consultancy, Nova Search accompanies you personally from the initial requirements analysis to successful onboarding.

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