The accounting profession in South Africa offers a robust and clearly defined pathway to high remuneration, particularly for those who attain specific professional designations and specialise in high-demand, complex areas of finance. For this year, the highest salaries are commanded by roles that combine technical excellence in accounting and finance with strategic business insight, leadership, and specialised technical knowledge.
These positions are found across corporate finance, professional services, and the public sector, with compensation reflecting the level of responsibility, risk management, and value creation involved. This guide outlines the ten highest-paying accounting roles currently, detailing their earning potential, core responsibilities, and the typical qualifications required to reach these upper echelons of the profession.
Top 10 Highest Paying Accounting Jobs In South Africa: A Guide for This Year
1. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The apex of the accounting career ladder, the CFO is the executive responsible for the entire financial strategy and health of an organisation.
* Annual Salary Range: R 2,000,000 – R 7,000,000+ (heavily dependent on company size, JSE-listed companies command the highest packages, including bonuses and share options).
* Role & Value: Beyond traditional finance oversight, the CFO is a key strategic partner to the CEO and board. They drive capital allocation, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), investor relations, treasury, risk management, and digital transformation of the finance function. They are ultimately accountable for financial reporting, compliance, and sustainability.
* Typical Profile: A Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) designation is almost mandatory, often complemented by an MBA or MCom (Finance). Requires 15-20+ years of progressive experience, including senior roles like Financial Director or Group Financial Manager.
2. Finance Director / Group Financial Manager
A senior executive role overseeing the day-to-day financial operations and reporting of a large company or group, often a direct report to the CFO.
* Annual Salary Range: R 1,400,000 – R 3,500,000
* Role & Value: Manages the finance team, leads the budgeting and forecasting process, ensures accurate monthly and annual reporting, maintains internal controls, and manages relationships with auditors and banks. Acts as the CFO’s right hand in implementing financial strategy.
* Typical Profile: A CA(SA) with 10-15 years of post-qualification experience, including several years in a senior financial management position. Strong leadership and systems implementation skills are crucial.
3. Partner at a ‘Big Four’ or Large Audit Firm
The pinnacle within public practice, a Partner owns a share of the firm’s profits and leads major client engagements, practice areas, or business development.
* Annual Salary Range: R 1,800,000 – R 5,000,000+ (Highly variable based on the firm’s profitability, the partner’s own client portfolio, and their division – audit, tax, advisory).
* Role & Value: Responsible for managing high-risk audit clients, providing strategic advisory services, winning new business, and mentoring senior managers. Their income is directly tied to the performance and fees of their practice.
* Typical Profile: A CA(SA) with 12-18 years of experience, having progressed from Manager to Senior Manager. Exceptional client relationship skills, technical mastery, and a strong business development track record are essential.
4. Head of Internal Audit (Chief Audit Executive)
The top internal audit executive, responsible for providing independent assurance to the board on risk management, governance, and internal controls.
* Annual Salary Range: R 1,200,000 – R 2,800,000
* Role & Value: Leads the internal audit function, develops the risk-based audit plan, presents findings to the Audit Committee, and investigates fraud or significant control failures. The role is increasingly focused on cybersecurity, data governance, and operational resilience.
* Typical Profile: A CA(SA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), with extensive experience in both external and internal audit. Deep understanding of King IV governance principles and sector-specific risks is key.
5. Tax Director / Head of Tax
A senior specialist role responsible for all tax matters of a large corporation or as a partner/principal in a firm’s tax division.
* Annual Salary Range: R 1,100,000 – R 2,500,000
* Role & Value: Ensures tax compliance across all jurisdictions, plans and executes complex tax strategies to optimise the group’s effective tax rate, manages transfer pricing policies, and handles disputes with SARS. They navigate the intricate and ever-changing landscape of local and international tax law.
* Typical Profile: A Chartered Accountant with a Master’s in Taxation or being a Registered Tax Practitioner. Specialised experience in corporate tax, international tax, or transfer pricing is mandatory.
6. Financial Controller
The operational leader of the accounting function, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all financial transactions and reporting.
* Annual Salary Range: R 850,000 – R 1,800,000
* Role & Value: Manages the general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and financial reporting team. Responsible for producing monthly management accounts, statutory accounts, and ensuring adherence to accounting standards (IFRS). Acts as a key liaison with external auditors.
* Typical Profile: A CA(SA) or CIMA management accountant with 8-12 years of experience, often having risen through the ranks in a corporate finance department. Strong technical accounting skills and process improvement expertise are vital.
7. Management Accountant / Business Partner (Senior Level)
A strategic role embedded within business units, using financial data to drive commercial decisions and performance improvement.
* Annual Salary Range: R 700,000 – R 1,300,000
* Role & Value: Goes beyond reporting to analyse profitability, product/customer performance, and market trends. Develops budgets and forecasts, evaluates investment proposals (CAPEX), and works directly with operational managers to improve margins and efficiency.
* Typical Profile: A CIMA or CGMA designation is highly valued, though CAs also excel. Requires strong analytical skills, business acumen, and the ability to communicate financial concepts to non-financial managers.
8. Forensic Accountant / Financial Investigator (Senior Specialist)
A specialist who investigates financial crimes such as fraud, corruption, money laundering, and embezzlement.
* Annual Salary Range: R 650,000 – R 1,400,000
* Role & Value: Works for large accounting firms, banks, insurance companies, or law enforcement (like the Hawks). Analyzes complex financial data, traces illicit funds, prepares evidence for court, and quantifies losses. This field is growing due to heightened regulatory and compliance demands.
* Typical Profile: A CA(SA) with additional qualifications like Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Requires a meticulous, skeptical mind, investigative instincts, and knowledge of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) and FICA.
9. Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
An executive role focused on identifying, assessing, and mitigating the major risks facing an organisation (financial, operational, strategic, compliance).
* Annual Salary Range: R 1,500,000 – R 3,000,000+
* Role & Value: While not a pure accounting role, it is a common destination for senior finance professionals. The CRO develops the enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, conducts stress testing, and reports directly to the board on the company’s risk appetite and exposures.
* Typical Profile: A CA(SA) or CFA charterholder with deep experience in auditing, treasury, or credit risk. Professional risk management certifications (e.g., PRM, FRM) are advantageous.
10. Investment Banking Associate/Director (M&A, ECM)
A high-pressure, high-reward role in corporate finance, facilitating major financial transactions for clients.
* Annual Salary Range: R 1,000,000 – R 2,500,000+ (with significant bonuses tied to deal completion).
* Role & Value: Works on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raising (Equity Capital Markets – ECM, Debt Capital Markets). Involves financial modeling, valuation, due diligence, and preparing pitch books for corporate clients.
* Typical Profile: A top-tier CA(SA) or CFA charterholder, often with an MBA. Requires exceptional analytical and modeling skills, resilience, and the ability to work extreme hours. Typically recruited from top audit firms or directly from university for graduate programmes.
Pathways and Key Considerations for This Year
* The CA(SA) Gold Standard: The Chartered Accountant (South Africa) designation remains the single most powerful credential for accessing the highest-paying roles, particularly CFO, Partner, and FD tracks.
* Specialisation is Lucrative: Deep expertise in tax, forensic accounting, or risk management can lead to high earnings without necessarily following the general management path.
* Sector Matters: Salaries are typically highest in JSE-listed corporations, multinationals, large financial services institutions (banks, insurance), and the ‘Big Four’ audit firms.
* Beyond Technical Skills: To reach the top tiers, professionals must develop leadership, strategic thinking, communication, and commercial acumen. The role evolves from doing the work to leading teams and shaping strategy.
* Continuous Learning: Staying current with evolving regulations (IFRS, tax law, King IV), digital finance tools (ERP systems, data analytics, RPA), and global economic trends is non-negotiable for maintaining a high-earning edge.
In summary, the highest-paying accounting jobs in South Africa for this year are overwhelmingly executive leadership and senior specialist roles held by Chartered Accountants (CAs) with substantial post-qualification experience. The pathway is demanding but clear: qualify as a CA(SA), gain diverse and progressively responsible experience, and develop the strategic and leadership competencies that allow you to transition from technical expert to trusted business leader and advisor. The financial rewards at this level reflect the significant responsibility for governance, capital, and the overall financial stewardship of major enterprises.