Chartered accountants earn €90k average

The average chartered accountant in Leinster earns nearly €90,000. However, despite the high figures there remains a large disparity between the top earners in the profession and newly-qualified accountants.

The survey carried out by the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society found that the average total salary for a managing director increased by 4% in the past year to €176,200, while a newly-qualified accountant will now earn just under €50,000.

Managing partner of The Panel, Paul McArdle said that rising salaries for chartered accountants was good news for the wider economy as it showed a return of economic confidence.

“The picture emerging from this survey is of a profession reporting increasing confidence, recovering salaries after sustained pressure, and wider benefit packages remaining by and large the same. Fluctuations in salary are always keenly watched as movement in remuneration is a key barometer of business confidence. Given the central position of chartered accountants in the running of most businesses, the fact that salaries are on the rise is a very positive indicator for the wider economy,” he said.

Despite the broadly positive results of the survey a sizeable minority, 16%, of respondents have seen their pay cut in the last three years, however the figure was down from 26% last year. The survey found benefits such as company cars had also been withdrawn.