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
