ACCA Salary Guide 2026: How Much Do ACCA Accountants Earn?
Here's what ACCA-qualified accountants actually earn at every stage — from trainee to finance director — based on current 2025/2026 market data.
ACCA Salary at a Glance
| Career Stage | UK National | London | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee (0-2 yrs) | £22,000-£30,000 | £26,000-£36,000 | €28,000-€38,000 |
| Part-Qualified (2-4 yrs) | £30,000-£42,000 | £36,000-£50,000 | €38,000-€52,000 |
| Newly Qualified | £40,000-£55,000 | £55,000-£70,000 | €55,000-€65,000 |
| Experienced (3-7 yrs PQ) | £55,000-£75,000 | £65,000-£90,000 | €65,000-€80,000 |
| Financial Controller | £70,000-£95,000 | £80,000-£110,000 | €80,000-€110,000 |
| Finance Director/CFO | £100,000-£180,000+ | £120,000-£225,000+ | €110,000-€180,000+ |
Based on 2025/2026 data from Morgan McKinley, PayScale, and published salary surveys.
Trainee Salaries
Trainee accountants across the UK typically earn £22,000-£30,000. London: £26,000-£36,000. Ireland: €28,000-€38,000.
The Jump at Qualification
Newly qualified ACCA professionals nationally earn £40,000-£55,000. London: £55,000-£70,000. Dublin: €60,000-€65,000 on average (Morgan McKinley 2026).
Experienced ACCA
With 3-7 years post-qualification experience, UK salaries reach £55,000-£75,000 nationally and £65,000-£90,000 in London.
Senior Roles
Financial controllers: £70,000-£95,000 nationally. Finance Directors and CFOs: £100,000-£180,000 nationally. London financial services CFOs can exceed £225,000 including bonus.
Location and Sector
London salaries are typically 20-30% higher than the national average. Financial services consistently pays the most. Technology and fintech companies have become highly competitive for FP&A roles.
Global ACCA Salaries
Middle East: equivalent of £40,000-£60,000 tax-free for newly qualified. Singapore and Hong Kong are strong markets. ACCA is highly recognised across sub-Saharan Africa.
Is ACCA Worth It?
The qualification costs £3,000-£7,000 and takes 3-5 years. Over a 30-year career, the salary premium runs into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Explore learnsignal ACCA courses.
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