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2025 marked Barden’s eighth year of partnership with Chartered Accountants Ireland to produce the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society Salary Survey. Almost 1,000 members completed this survey, allowing us to collate these insightful findings.
Economic Backdrop
Despite the continued backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty over the past 12 months, and, of course, the inauguration of Trump and the subsequent changes in US trade policy, demand for accounting talent from 2024 continued across Leinster. Companies, both large and small, have struggled in many instances to attract accounting talent, a challenge that has been felt most acutely at the 0-5 years PQE level.
However, on a positive note in terms of talent supply, the natural return of experienced talent from abroad has somewhat stabilised the dramatic salary increases that we saw from 2022 to 2024.
Accurate data on reward can create a competitive advantage for those who choose to use it. In Barden, we hope that the CAI Leinster Salary Survey, along with our bespoke Barden Talent Monitor insights, will enable you to have more constructive conversations internally, craft competitive reward structures to aid talent retention, and understand what is required when looking to attract talent externally.
Some of the key highlights from the 2025 survey include:
- Average salary package of all qualified chartered accountants across Leinster has increased to €131,654, an increase of over 6% on 2024
- Average salary package for a recently qualified chartered accountant now stands at €72,450, again an increase of over 6% on 2024
- Average salary package for a qualified chartered accountant, with 5 years post-qualified experience now stands at €97,527, an increase of over 8% on 2024
- 10% of members are working fully remotely, 21% are full-time back in the office, while 69% of members have hybrid working arrangements.
- 44% of members have been promoted in the last 3 years, with 17% having moved jobs in the last 12 months
Are you shaping your Talent Strategy?
While understanding the macro perspective is essential, it should be complemented with real-time, localised, peer-to-peer comparisons to assess your organisation’s true competitiveness for talent and inform strategic decision-making. For example, a large multinational group function will typically not be competing for the same talent as a local SME in a given location.
This is where Barden can help you. We offer over 20 profession-specific talent monitors, such as for early-career accountants or data analysts, that provide real-time, quarter-by-quarter insights. While some of this data is publicly available here>>>, bespoke analysis remains key to effectively shaping your talent strategy.
For more detailed insights, peer comparisons, company-specific turnover data, performance benchmarks, or gender diversity trends by profession and level, contact Elaine Brady at elaine.brady@barden.ie for bespoke insights to help shape your talent strategy.