Leinster accountants earn near-record pay as AI use rises

Chartered Accountants in Leinster earned an average salary package of €130,960 in 2026, according to a salary survey by Chartered Accountants Leinster Society and Barden. It is the second-highest figure recorded since the survey began in 2018.

The findings suggest pay has remained broadly stable after several years of increases, with the 2026 average only slightly below the 2025 peak of €131,654. The current level is 20% higher than in 2018, indicating earnings remain well above pre-pandemic levels.

Nearly 800 Chartered Accountants took part in the survey, which also found strong employment security and continued movement into senior roles. Some 93% of respondents were employed on a permanent basis, while 37% had moved into more senior positions over the past three years.

Mid-career accountants, defined as those five years after qualification, reported an average salary package of €89,759. That compares with €74,706 in 2018 and €97,527 a year earlier, suggesting some easing from last year's higher level.

Newly qualified Chartered Accountants reported average remuneration of €65,538. The survey found that this also remains above pre-pandemic norms.

"Although salary increases have moderated compared with the sharp rises seen in previous years, the overall trend remains clear: accountants are earning significantly more than before the pandemic. Average salary packages remain close to record levels, demonstrating strong demand for finance professionals and the continued value employers place on accountancy and finance expertise," said Darren Holmes, Chair of Chartered Accountants Leinster Society.

"Just as importantly, the survey highlights the stability of the profession, with 93% of respondents employed on a permanent basis and 37% having progressed into more senior roles over the past three years. These findings point to strong career prospects for Chartered Accountants at all stages of their careers."

Pay and progression

Across the sample, 88% said their total remuneration had increased over the past three years. Of those, 21% reported rises of more than 25%.

The survey also points to expectations of further pay growth, with 77% of respondents saying they expect their total remuneration to increase within the next 12 months.

Beyond salary, pension contributions were identified as the most valued part of the package after base pay, cited by 59% of respondents. Other common elements included payment of professional subscriptions (77%), Cycle to Work schemes (59%), health insurance (51%), and sponsored professional development (46%).

Job satisfaction measures were also relatively strong. The research found that 62% were satisfied with non-monetary aspects of their job, 70% were satisfied with their work environment, and 67% were happy with their work-life balance.

Holmes said: "At a time of profound technological and economic change, these findings reinforce the enduring attractiveness of Chartered Accountancy as a profession, offering a combination of earning potential, career progression, workplace flexibility and long-term employment security."

Hybrid pattern

Flexible working remains a prominent feature of the profession in Leinster. The ability to work remotely was cited by 79% of respondents as an important way their employer provides flexibility.

Working patterns now appear to have settled into a long-term hybrid model. Respondents said they spend an average of 48% of their time working remotely and 52% in the office, while 71% said they have some form of hybrid arrangement.

The proportion working in the office five days a week was 21%, unchanged from the previous year. This suggests many employers have retained a mixed model rather than returning fully to office-based work.

AI adoption

The survey also recorded a sharp increase in the use of artificial intelligence in daily work. Some 53% of Chartered Accountants said they now use AI in some form, up from 28% a year earlier.

Views on the technology were largely positive. Some 55% said AI represents a significant opportunity for the profession, while 57% said it would allow the profession to move further up the value chain.

Two-thirds of respondents said artificial intelligence would have a positive impact on their career, while 13% expected a negative effect. The same proportion, 66%, also said automation solutions would have a positive effect on their career, as did 66% for online collaboration tools.

"Despite the continued backdrop of macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty over the past 12 months, and the ongoing impact of US trade policy and tariffs, demand for accounting talent has held up across Leinster. The survey points to the resilience of the profession, with high levels of permanent employment, continued opportunities for career progression and salary packages remaining close to record levels. These findings underline the enduring demand for Chartered Accountants and the value organisations place on finance professionals who can help navigate an increasingly complex business environment," Elaine Brady, Managing Partner at Barden, said.

"The post-Covid working pattern established in 2022 is firmly embedded, with 71% of respondents having some form of hybrid working arrangement. The proportion of people back in the office five days a week has held steady at 21%, unchanged since 2025, suggesting the balance struck in recent years has now settled."