Accounting salaries in New Zealand vary widely depending on qualifications, experience, employer type, and company size. Whether someone is working in a commercial role or within a firm, the salary picture looks quite different. Here’s a snapshot of what we’re seeing in the market for 2025.
Entry-level and non-qualified roles
Accounts Assistants, Junior Accountants, and Assistant Accountants typically earn $65,000 – $85,000. At this level, qualifications aren’t always essential, but progression is faster (and pay is higher) for those working towards professional accreditation. Regional roles or positions in smaller firms often sit at the lower end of this range.
Qualified mid-level accountants
For those with 3-8 years of experience and a CA (or equivalent) qualification, salaries generally fall between $90,000 – $130,000. This includes roles such as Accountant, Financial Accountant, Management Accountant, or Commercial Accountant. Mid-level commercial roles tend to pay slightly more than comparable positions in firms, reflecting their closer link to business performance.
Senior and company accountants
Experienced accountants leading small teams or overseeing a company’s finance function typically earn $130,000 – $160,000+. These roles demand a broader skill set, from technical accounting to systems oversight and management reporting, and the premium reflects that. Larger organisations or group structures often pay at the higher end.
Financial controllers and senior leaders
At the top end of the spectrum, Financial Controllers and senior commercial finance leaders are commonly on $160,000 – $250,000+. These are complex roles, usually in larger businesses, with responsibility for multi-entity reporting, compliance, strategy input, and leading sizeable finance teams.
What influences salary levels?
- Qualifications: Chartered status almost always brings a premium.
- Employer type: Commercial and industry roles generally pay more than roles at the same level within CA practices.
- Company size and complexity: Larger businesses, multi-entity structures, and roles with leadership responsibility push salaries up.
- Experience: Naturally, pay steps up significantly once candidates move into leadership or reach 8-10 years of experience.
- Location: Auckland and Wellington pay more than regional centres, though the cost of living plays a part in expectations.
- Market conditions: Skills shortages, particularly in areas like group reporting, ERP implementation, and data-driven finance, mean higher offers for candidates with in-demand expertise.
Trends in 2025
While demand for accountants remains steady, salary increases in many firms have been modest this year, in some cases, only a few thousand dollars. Many professionals feel salaries are not keeping pace with cost-of-living increases, making benefits such as flexible working, professional development support, and career progression more important in the decision to join or stay with an employer.
The takeaway
Accounting remains a competitive field where qualifications, experience, and the type of employer make a clear difference to pay levels. Employers who want to attract and retain great people need to offer not just a fair salary but also a clear career path, flexibility, and a supportive working environment.
If you’d like tailored advice on setting salary bands for your team, or benchmarking a specific customer service position, please get in touch. We’re here to help.