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Accountant and fiduciary salary in Switzerland

By The Agences-Placement editorial team·Finance··2 min read

Accountant, fiduciary expert, federally certified expert accountant: grids by level and company size.

Accountant and fiduciary salary in Switzerland: grid by experience and sector

Overview

Accounting and fiduciary work are stable, well-paid jobs in Switzerland. Median gross annual: CHF 85,000–120,000. Shortage of certified profiles.

In a company

  • CFC entry-level accountant: CHF 65,000–75,000
  • Experienced accountant (3–7 yrs): CHF 80,000–100,000
  • Specialist / federal certificate: CHF 100,000–125,000
  • Head of accounting: CHF 120,000–160,000
  • Finance manager / controller: CHF 130,000–180,000
  • CFO SME: CHF 160,000–230,000
  • CFO large company: CHF 250,000–700,000+ + bonus + stock options

In a fiduciary firm

  • Junior accountant: CHF 65,000–78,000
  • Experienced accountant: CHF 80,000–100,000
  • Fiduciary expert with federal certificate: CHF 105,000–135,000
  • Federally qualified expert accountant: CHF 130,000–180,000
  • Partner: CHF 160,000–400,000+ depending on shares

Audit (Big Four and beyond)

Big Four in Switzerland: PwC, KPMG, EY, Deloitte + BDO, Mazars.

  • Audit assistant: CHF 80,000–95,000
  • Senior audit (3–5 yrs): CHF 100,000–130,000
  • Manager: CHF 130,000–170,000
  • Senior manager: CHF 170,000–220,000
  • Director: CHF 220,000–300,000
  • Partner: CHF 350,000–1,000,000+

Tax adviser

  • Junior tax (post-bachelor): CHF 85,000–105,000
  • Senior tax consultant: CHF 120,000–160,000
  • Tax manager: CHF 160,000–220,000
  • Tax partner (KPMG, PwC, EY, Deloitte): CHF 400,000–1,500,000+

By canton

  • Zurich: +10% on median (banking, finance)
  • Geneva: +8% (international, fiduciary)
  • Vaud, Basel: +5%
  • Bern: median (administration, federal)
  • Ticino: –10% (but Italian clientele values expertise)

Titles and certifications

  • CFC commercial employee accounting track: foundation
  • Federal certificate in finance and accounting: +CHF 15,000–25,000
  • Federally qualified expert in finance and controlling (EFC): +CHF 25,000–40,000
  • Federally qualified fiduciary expert: +CHF 20,000–35,000
  • Federally qualified expert accountant: +CHF 30,000–50,000
  • ACCA, CPA, MBA finance: internationally recognised

Career tips

  • The federally qualified expert accountant is a rare title in Switzerland: chronic shortage, premium salaries
  • Big Four audit gives excellent initial training: 3–4 yrs then move to industry (+30–50%) or tax
  • International tax (transfer pricing, M&A tax, HNW tax) yields the best non-banking salaries
  • Regional fiduciaries often offer better work-life balance than Big Four

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