Knowing where the accountant salary market is now, and where it is heading, gives you a competitive edge when setting salary and compensation practices. It also gives you the information you need to avoid underpaying (causing high rates of defection), or overpaying (which hits profitability). The Report puts power back in your hands, by giving you up-to-date market intelligence on salary and compensation practices and trends for public accounting firms and corporate employers.

We have also included insights from the industry and our deep experience in the job market. The data points in this report are based solely on data collected directly from Accounting professionals and contain information they would tell you about their job and salary satisfaction, but probably aren’t.

The accounting industry is often described as recession-proof. While this is a bit of an exaggeration, we can confirm that, in terms of accountant salaries, the industry is vibrant, robust and full of promise. In fact, our accountant salary report reveals that 80 percent of those surveyed had absolutely no job security concerns. Additionally, 75 percent of survey respondents expressed their optimism for a substantial increase in earnings this year. On average, accounting professionals are anticipating increases in total compensation of more than 7 percent.

Equally encouraging was the response to questions regarding work/life balance. Only one in five survey participants rated their industry experience as below average or poor. This year’s compensation report also identified a possible developing trend in bonus pay. Accounting professionals in many leadership positions experienced slight declines in base pay that were offset by substantial increases in bonus pay. The prospect of performance-based bonus pay is one that many professionals in the industry would welcome.

Accounting Salary How they Made their MoneyThe report also compares years of broad work experience vs. years of accounting industry experience. We found those working in the accounting industry for five years or less actually have spent a higher percentage of their working life in the accounting industry than their colleagues with six or more years of work experience.

We surveyed hundreds of accounting professionals to benchmark accountant salary practices. Respondents represented firms from around the globe, with a strong concentration in North America and the United States. Included in this analysis are some of the largest and most-recognized accounting firms and companies across the spectrum of industries. The findings in our report contain only data from respondents that were verified as accounting professionals. Submissions that did not comply with the instructions for the survey or contained employer information that could not be verified were excluded from the final results.

With 42 detailed charts and graphs, as well as insightful analysis, this report addresses the interests of accounting professionals at every level. It also serves as an important resource for anyone entertaining a career in the accounting industry.

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