Five of the 10 best-paid finance chiefs last year work in the technology industry, as executives at companies from Apple to Google were rewarded for increasing profit, amassing cash and minimising taxes.

Apple chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer earned most in fiscal 2012 – a $68.6 million (€52 million) package that dwarfed the $4.17 million paid to chief executive officer Tim Cook, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Oracle CFO Safra Catz was second at $51.7 million (€39.2 million), making her the highest-paid female leader, while Patrick Pichette at Google was third, with $38.7 million (€29.3). The pay recognises technology executives who finished the year with more than $230 billion in cash and investments – about seven times the total for the other companies with CFOs in the top 10.

Facebook's David Ebersman and Intel's Stacy Smith were among the 10 best compensated. – (Bloomberg)