Life is good for at least 37% of financial services professionals in London, reports one UK headhunter.

A Morgan McKinley survey of 220 financial professionals working in investment banks and other financial services reports the following:

• 80% of London’s financial services professionals received a similar (43%) or higher (37%) bonus than last year
• 67% stated they were satisfied with their payout and 70% said their bonus either matched or exceeded their expectations
• This is against a backdrop of 71% of financial services employers stating their companies’ bonus pots were similar or larger than 2007
• New job vacancies fell 20% in Jan 08 compared to Jan 07 as market uncertainty led to a slower start to hiring for the year
• However, job numbers still showed substantial growth on Dec 07 figures, up 57%
• Typical of post-bonus season and consistent with the previous two years, the number of individuals wishing to change jobs rose in Jan 08, up 11% on Jan 07 and 87% on Dec 07
• Basic salaries increased across all levels with the average salary rising 5% on Jan 07 to £53,246.

via Bloomberg