Accountant’s wage hits €110k mark

THE average annual wage for chartered accountants in the Leinster region is just more than €110,000, according to a new wage survey by the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants (LSCA) and financial recruitment consultancy, the Accountants Panel.

The survey of just under 1,300 accountants found that those working in the financial services sector tend to be paid more than their counterparts in other sectors and that their fringe benefits also tend to be better.

The average salary of a head of finance in industry and commerce is €140,800 per annum, while on average a head of finance in the financial services sector receives a wage of €190,400 per annum.

In addition, 65% of heads of finance in industry and commerce get health insurance as a fringe benefit, compared to 83% of those in financial services firms.

The main factors, according to the study, influencing salaries are the size of the company, the position within the company and also the year in which the employee qualified as a chartered accountant.

“Our annual salary survey has once again demonstrated that chartered accountancy offers graduates a well-paid career where they are valued by employers.

“In addition, it shows that recently-qualified chartered accountants can potentially reap significant financial rewards if they progress in the profession,” said LSCA chairperson, Julie Herlihy.

The survey also found that accountants working for firms in the financial services and industry sectors are paid better than those working in private practices.

The number of chartered accountants in survey who have company cars has fallen from 36% in 2002 to 12% in 2008.