Chartered accountants top the earning list
Chartered accountancy remains one of the highest paid professions, attracting an average salary of $139,077.
Earning potential is higher for those working in Auckland, where the average chartered accountant’s salary is $151,372.
Results of the latest industry remuneration survey of more than 10,000 chartered accountants, conducted by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, show salaries have now stabilised after several years of increases.
Qualified chartered accountants, those who have completed academic study and professional competency programmes to post graduate level, had a 1% increase in salary over the year, while associate chartered accountants and provisional chartered accountants saw their salaries drop 2%.
Salaries fluctuated widely according to region, type of position and sectors.
Chartered accountants working in the financial services sector received a 14% salary increase over the year – the biggest gain for any sector.
Chartered accountants in small public practice firms had an average 3% decrease, while those in the public sector rose 4%. Chartered accountants working in the not-for-profit sectors saw their salaries rise 3%.
The three top positions that netted pay increases during the year were sole practitioners (30%), finance directors (16.5%) and treasury accountants (14.8%).
The three largest decreases were assistant accountants (15.4%), forensic accountants (12.3%) and company secretaries (8%).
NZICA chief executive Terry McLaughlin said overall, the profession had retained its value in the employment market, during difficult economic conditions.
“Compared to other professions and industries, chartered accountants remain one of the higher paid professional groups in New Zealand. However, we are beginning to see salary growth ease.”
NZICA has 32,000 members in New Zealand and more than 90 other countries.
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