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Financial Accountant Salaries: AU Averages 2026
Explore the average range of a Financial Accountant Manager salary in Australia by location:
- New South Wales: $100k - $120k
- Queensland: $90k - $110k
- Victoria: $95k - $115k
- South Australia: $85k - $105k
- Western Australia: $110k - $120k
Financial Accountant salary trends
Financial Accountant salaries in Australia remain steady, reflecting consistent demand for professionals responsible for statutory reporting, compliance, and core financial accounting functions. Salary movement at this level tends to be incremental rather than volatile, with remuneration closely tied to role scope, reporting complexity, and technical requirements rather than short-term market fluctuations.
Salary outcomes are generally strongest in Sydney and Melbourne, where Financial Accountants commonly support larger, more complex corporate structures and regulated environments. Perth continues to show solid salary stability, particularly within resource-linked organisations where accurate reporting and audit readiness remain critical. In Brisbane, salary trends reflect steady demand across infrastructure, healthcare, and professional services, while Adelaide typically sees more moderate salary movement, often balanced by broader role exposure and longer tenure.
Across all locations, Financial Accountants with strong technical capability, particularly in statutory reporting, audit coordination, and ERP-based reporting, are more likely to achieve salary outcomes at the upper end of market ranges. Experience supporting system upgrades, process improvements, or complex reporting environments continues to support salary stability and progression at this level.
What factors influence the salary of a Financial Accountant?
Experience
Financial Accountants with strong experience across month-end close, statutory reporting, balance sheet reconciliation, and audit coordination are highly sought after. Professionals who have supported system implementations, process optimisation, or complex reporting environments tend to command higher salaries, particularly within large or regulated organisations.
Qualifications
Professional qualifications such as CA (Chartered Accountant) or CPA (Certified Practising Accountant) are strongly valued and often required for Financial Accountant roles. Candidates working toward completion of these qualifications also benefit from improved salary prospects. These credentials demonstrate technical competence and alignment with Australian accounting standards.
Industry
Industry plays a key role in salary variation. Financial Accountants working in financial services, technology, resources & mining, infrastructure, and healthcare often receive higher salaries due to regulatory requirements and reporting complexity. In Western Australia, mining and energy organisations continue to offer competitive salaries to attract experienced accounting professionals.
Company size
Larger organisations and ASX-listed companies typically offer higher salaries due to complex reporting structures, multiple entities, and governance obligations. Smaller businesses may offer slightly lower base salaries but can provide broader role exposure, accelerated development, and flexible working arrangements.
Location
Location influences Financial Accountant salaries across Australia. Sydney and Melbourne offer the highest salary ranges, reflecting the concentration of corporate headquarters and financial services organisations. Perth remains competitive, particularly within mining and resources, while Brisbane continues to see steady demand driven by growth in infrastructure, healthcare, and professional services. Adelaide typically offers more moderate salary bands, often balanced by lifestyle benefits and reduced cost of living. Regional roles may offer lower base salaries but can include flexibility or relocation incentives.
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What typical perks or benefits are associated with this role?
CFOs often receive a range of benefits in addition to their base salary. This varies depending on the company, industry, and role, but common perks include:
- Bonuses and Incentives
- Healthcare and Insurance
- Retirement Plans
- Flexible Work Arrangements
- Professional Development
- Qualification Reimbursement
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Travel Benefits
- Company Discounts
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Are remote or freelance CFOs paid differently?
Yes, due to different compensation structures, freelance CFOs can be paid differently compared to full-time employees. Here are some factors that influence how freelance CFOs are compensated:
- Hourly or project-based rates
- Flat fees
- Value-based pricing
- Retainer Agreements
- Geographic considerations
- Industry specialisation
- Market demand
- Experience and reputation
- Remote work flexibility
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What resources can I use to research Chief Financial Officer salaries?
The Robert Walters Salary Survey is an excellent tool for researching Chief Financial Officer salaries in the UK and includes:
Enhanced data - salary ranges and averages across large, medium and small enterprises
Hiring Trends - See what hiring trends look like for your industry in 2025
Talent Hotspots - Learn what skill sets will be in demand for the year ahead for each sector
Expectations - Explore how to attract and retain the best talent with the right offerings
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What expertise does Robert Walters have with hiring Chief Financial Officers?
Robert Walters has extensive expertise in placing Chief Financial Officers in prestigious companies across the UK, offering insights into what attracts top talent and how to craft effective job specifications.
If you have an immediate Chief Financial Officer requirement, submit a vacancy here, and one of our recruitment experts will be in touch.
FAQs: Financial Accountant
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What is the average salary for a Financial Accountant in Australia?
The average salary for a Financial Accountant typically ranges between $85K and $120K depending on experience, industry, company size, and location.
For a broader view of Financial Accountant salaries, along with salary insights for roles across a wide range of industries and key locations in New Zealand and Australia, download the Salary Guide. -
What typical perks and benefits are associated with this role?
Financial accountants often receive a range of benefits in addition to their base salary. This varies depending on the company, industry, and role, but common perks include:
- Bonuses and incentives
- Healthcare and insurance
- Retirement plans
- Flexible work arrangements
- Professional development
- Qualification reimbursement
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Travel benefits
- Company discounts -
How can employers ensure their salary offer is competitive?
Employers should benchmark roles using current Robert Walters Salary Survey data. It is an excellent tool for researching Financial Accountant salaries in Australia and includes:
- Enhanced data: Provides salary ranges and averages across large, medium, and small enterprises.
- Hiring trends: Offers insights into hiring trends within the industry for 2026.
- Talent hotspots: Identifies the skill sets that will be in demand for the year ahead in each sector.
- Expectations: Explores how to attract and retain top talent with the right offerings.
Job specification template for a Financial Accountant position
Crafting an effective job description for a Financial Accountant is key to attracting the right talent to your organisation. Secure the expertise of seasoned finance recruitment specialists by downloading our customisable template. With years of experience in matching Financial Accountants with leading companies across Australia, we understand what it takes to draw the attention of top candidates.
Our template is structured in a user-friendly format, enabling you to effortlessly incorporate specific details about your requirements. It includes sections for a comprehensive job summary, essential responsibilities, and the skills and qualifications needed.
Download the template to gain access to the example and follow the guidance to tailor the job specification to the role you're aiming to fill.
Hiring Manager? Benchmark your teams salaries
If you’re growing your team or simply need to retain the talent you have, the Salary Survey gives you the insights you need to have the right team in place to keep your business moving forward.
Candidate? Find out your salary with an individual salary guide
Whether you’re looking for a new role or preparing for your end-of-year appraisal, the Salary Survey will arm you with everything you need to know to get what you deserve.
Bespoke salary benchmarking
Using a combination of our own data, publicly available insights and our recruitment experts, we build bespoke overviews of the salaries and benefits required to attract talent.