Accountant Salary in Australia and New Zealand: What Moves You Up a Band

Most accountants have looked up a salary guide at some point. You find your title, look at the range and feel either relieved or annoyed.

Then you realise the range is wide. Two people with the same title can be tens of thousands of dollars apart. And the guide does not tell you why, or what you would need to do to move from the bottom of the band to the top.

This article does not give you a list of figures. Salary data changes every year, varies by source and goes out of date quickly. Instead, it explains what actually moves an accountant’s pay in Australia and New Zealand, so you can make better decisions about your next step.

For current figures, use the published salary guides from the major recruitment firms, such as Hays, Robert Walters, Michael Page and Robert Half. Professional bodies like CA ANZ and CPA Australia also publish remuneration information for members. Check several sources, not just one.

Why salary ranges are so wide

A salary guide gives a range for each title. That range covers many different jobs.

An Accountant in a large listed company in Sydney may do a narrow, specialised job in a big team. An Accountant in a small business in a regional town may do almost everything. A Senior Accountant in a Big 4 firm has a very different role from a Senior Accountant in a not-for-profit.

The title is the same. The scope, pressure, skills and market are not. That is why the range is wide.

Where you sit in the range depends on a handful of factors. Some you can control. Some you cannot.

The factors that move your salary

1. Your qualification

Finishing CA or CPA is one of the clearest steps in an accountant’s pay. Many employers set higher ranges for qualified accountants, and some roles are only open to them.

The gap is often most noticeable at Accountant and Senior Accountant level, where qualification can be the difference between two candidates who are otherwise similar.

If you are partway through, finishing is often the most valuable thing you can do for your pay in the next two years.

2. The scope of your role

Scope is the biggest driver after level. It includes:

• The size of the business you support

• The number of entities you work across

• Whether you prepare statutory accounts

• Your role in the audit

• Whether you supervise anyone

• How much reporting and analysis you do

An accountant who owns month end for several entities, leads the audit file and supervises an assistant will usually earn more than one who looks after a few reconciliations, even with the same title.

3. Industry

Some industries pay more for finance skills than others. In both countries, mining and resources, financial services, technology and some parts of infrastructure have often paid at the higher end. Not-for-profit, some public sector and smaller retail businesses often sit lower, though they may offer other benefits.

Moving industry can change your pay. It can also change your career options, so weigh both.

4. Location

Pay usually varies between cities and regions. In Australia, Sydney and Melbourne often have higher ranges, and Perth can be strong when the resources sector is busy. In New Zealand, Auckland often pays more than other centres.

But cost of living matters too. A slightly lower salary in a regional area can leave you better off. Read regional finance careers if you are weighing this up.

5. Practice versus industry

Accountants in public practice, such as Big 4 and mid-tier firms, often start on lower salaries than those in industry, but get strong training and structured progression. Many move into industry after a few years and see a jump in pay at that point.

If you are in practice, the move to industry is often one of the larger pay steps in your career. See moving from audit to industry.

6. Specialist skills

Some skills are in short supply and can lift pay:

• Strong systems experience, especially ERP implementations

• Advanced Excel, Power BI or data skills

• Technical accounting, such as complex leases, revenue or consolidation

• Tax specialist knowledge

• Experience with listed company reporting

Make sure these are visible on your resume if you have them.

7. How you are hired

The way you get a role affects your starting salary. Candidates who are approached for a role, or who have a competing offer, are often in a stronger position than those who apply cold. Candidates who are well presented on paper and at interview also tend to be offered higher in the range.

Why internal pay rises are often smaller

Many accountants find the biggest jumps come when they change employers. Internal pay rises are often tied to annual review cycles and budgets, and can be modest even when you have taken on much more.

That does not mean you have to leave to get paid fairly. But it does mean you need to make a clear case. See how Finance Managers ask for a pay rise. The same approach works at every level.

What does not move your salary much

• Time served. Staying longer in the same role does not usually move you up much on its own.

• Working longer hours. Unless it comes with more scope, it rarely shows up in pay.

• More short courses. Unless they lead to a recognised qualification or a skill in demand.

• Asking without evidence. Requests based on cost of living or what a friend earns are easy to decline.

How to use salary guides well

Salary guides are useful, but use them carefully:

• Compare like with like. Match your industry, location and business size, not just your title.

• Look at total package. Base salary, superannuation or KiwiSaver, bonuses, leave and flexibility all matter.

• Use several sources. Different guides measure different things.

• Check the date. Old guides can mislead you.

• Talk to recruiters. A specialist finance recruiter can tell you what is actually being paid in your market right now.

How to move up a band

If you want to move from the lower end of your range to the upper end, or into the next level:

• Finish your qualification.

• Take on more scope. Ask for extra entities, the audit file, a system project or someone to supervise.

• Build a skill in demand. Data, systems or a technical specialty.

• Record your achievements. Numbers that show the value you add.

• Present yourself clearly. Your resume and LinkedIn should show the scope you actually carry.

• Test the market. Talk to recruiters and apply selectively to understand your value.

How your resume affects your pay

This is often overlooked. When an employer reads your resume, they are not only deciding whether to interview you. They are forming a view of your level and therefore your value.

A resume that shows clear scope, achievements and skills puts you at the higher end of the range in the reader’s mind. A resume that lists duties puts you at the lower end. The same person can be offered very different salaries based on how they present.

My accountant resume guide shows how to make your scope visible.

Talking about salary in interviews

You will usually be asked about your current salary and expectations. Know your numbers, including your total package. Give a range for what you are looking for, based on research. Be clear and calm.

If you are moving up a level, base your expectation on the new level, not your current pay.

A worked example

Two accountants are both titled “Accountant” and both live in Brisbane.

The first works in a large company, looks after accounts payable reconciliations and fixed assets for one entity and is studying CPA. The second works in a $60 million business, owns month end for three entities, prepares the BAS and statutory accounts, leads the audit file, supervises an assistant and is CA qualified.

Same title. Same city. Very different jobs. A salary guide shows them in the same band, but the second is likely to be at the top of it, and may be ready for a Senior Accountant or Finance Manager role. Your resume needs to show which of these two people you are.

Your next step

Find two current salary guides and look up your role in your city and industry. Then write down three things that would move you to the top of that range. Pick one and start on it this month.

If you want a resume that shows your full scope and positions you higher in the range, my resume writing for accountants is built for this.

If you are not sure whether you are being paid fairly, book a complimentary Clarity Session and we can talk through where you sit.