How much does a chartered accountant earn in New Zealand?
A chartered accountant (CA) working as a financial accountant in New Zealand earns $95,000–$130,000 base in the first four years after qualifying and $120,000–$150,000 after five years (Robert Walters, Wellington, 2026). In public practice, business services accountants are advertised at $115,000–$125,000 and audit managers at $115,000–$135,000 (SEEK, October 2026).
Starting salaries before qualifying are lower: auditors are advertised at $65,000–$70,000 and graduate accountants start on $65,000–$80,000 base in Auckland. No current public source publishes Big 4 pay by grade in New Zealand.
Sources: Robert Walters Salary Guide 2026: Australia & New Zealand, SEEK: Business Services Accountant salary in NZ (October 2026), SEEK: Audit Manager salary in NZ (October 2026). Figures checked 18 October 2026.
| Role / level | Salary range | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chartered accountant (CA), financial accountant, 0–4 years | $95,000–$130,000 | Base, Wellington | [1] |
| Chartered accountant (CA), financial accountant, 5+ years | $120,000–$150,000 | Base, Wellington | [1] |
| Auditor | $65,000–$70,000 | Advertised, national | [2] |
| Business services accountant (public practice) | $115,000–$125,000 | Advertised, national | [3] |
| Audit manager | $115,000–$135,000 | Advertised, national | [4] |
| Tax manager | $115,000–$135,000 | Advertised, national | [5] |
Sources
- [1] Robert Walters Salary Guide 2026: Australia & New Zealand, published February 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Permanent base salaries, excluding benefits and bonuses.
- [2] SEEK: Auditor salary in NZ (October 2026), published October 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Advertised salaries in SEEK job ads; range is the middle 50% (25th–75th percentile).
- [3] SEEK: Business Services Accountant salary in NZ (October 2026), published October 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Advertised salaries in SEEK job ads; range is the middle 50% (25th–75th percentile).
- [4] SEEK: Audit Manager salary in NZ (October 2026), published October 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Advertised salaries in SEEK job ads; range is the middle 50% (25th–75th percentile).
- [5] SEEK: Taxation Manager salary in NZ (October 2026), published October 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Advertised salaries in SEEK job ads; range is the middle 50% (25th–75th percentile).
No current public source publishes New Zealand Big 4 pay by grade, so this table uses qualified-accountant and practice roles instead.
What does the role involve?
Chartered Accountant (CA) is the professional designation awarded by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) after a degree, the CA Program and supervised work experience. CAs work in public practice (audit, tax and advisory firms, including the Big 4) and in industry as financial accountants, controllers and CFOs.