From trainee through to qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA and partner level, enter your salary to see your take-home pay after Income Tax, National Insurance, pension and student loan for the 2026/27 tax year.
Salary · pension · 2026/27
Accountant salaries rise steeply with qualification and experience. Trainees studying ACA, ACCA or CIMA earn modest salaries that jump once they qualify, and pay is highest in practice partner roles, industry finance directors and London-based positions. Bonuses are common at senior levels.
| Role / level | Typical salary 2026 |
|---|---|
| Trainee / part-qualified | £24,000 – £35,000 |
| Newly qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) | £45,000 – £58,000 |
| Finance / management accountant | £50,000 – £70,000 |
| Finance director / partner | £80,000 – £150,000+ |
Accountants at senior levels often receive sizeable bonuses, which are taxed as normal income at your marginal rate — see the bonus tax calculator. If your income approaches £100,000, the Personal Allowance taper creates an effective 60% marginal rate, so pension contributions become especially valuable; model them with the field above or the pension contribution calculator.
A newly qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA accountant typically earns £45,000 to £58,000, rising to £50,000–£70,000 with a few years' experience. Finance directors and practice partners often earn £80,000 to well over £150,000, particularly in London.
A bonus is added to your salary and taxed at your marginal Income Tax and National Insurance rate in the month it is paid. A large bonus can push part of your income into the higher (40%) or additional (45%) band, so the tax on it can be higher than on your basic salary.
Between £100,000 and £125,140 the Personal Allowance is withdrawn at £1 for every £2 earned, creating an effective marginal rate of around 60%. A pension contribution that brings income back below £100,000 recovers allowance and gives outsized tax relief, which is why it is a common move for higher-earning accountants.
On a £50,000 salary with a 5% pension contribution, an accountant takes home roughly £36,700 a year, about £3,060 a month, after Income Tax, National Insurance and pension. Enter your own figures above for a precise result.
