ANZSCO 2211

Accountants

Overview

EMPLOYED

198,300

PART-TIME SHARE

18%

FEMALE SHARE

51%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

$1,841

MEDIAN AGE

41

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

-2,200

About this data

Summary

Accountants provide services relating to financial reporting, taxation, auditing, insolvency, accounting information systems, budgeting, cost management, planning and decision-making by organisations and individuals; and provide advice on associated compliance and performance requirements to ensure statutory and strategic governance.

Tasks

  • Assisting in formulating budgetary and accounting policies
  • Preparing financial statements for presentation to boards of directors, management, shareholders, and governing and statutory bodies
  • Conducting financial investigations, preparing reports, undertaking audits and advising on matters such as the purchase and sale of businesses, mergers, capital financing, suspected fraud, insolvency and taxation
  • Examining operating costs and organisations' income and expenditure
  • Providing assurance about the accuracy of information contained in financial reports and their compliance with statutory requirements
  • Providing financial and taxation advice on business structures, plans and operations
  • Preparing taxation returns for individuals and organisations
  • Liaising with financial institutions and brokers to establish funds management arrangements
  • Introducing and maintaining accounting systems, and advising on the selection and application of computer-based accounting systems
  • Maintaining internal control systems
  • May appraise cash flow and financial risk of capital investment projects

ANZSCO Classification

Details

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    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, customised report.
    Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Accountants All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 82% 70%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 43 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week $1,841 $1,697
    Median hourly earnings $48 $43

    Industries

    Accountants work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    32.7%

    Victoria

    31.7%

    Queensland

    15.6%

    South Australia

    4.9%

    Tasmania

    1.4%

    Northern Territory

    0.8%

    Australian Capital Territory

    2.1%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, August 2024, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Accountants All Occupations
    Median age 41 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 51% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Accountants
    15–19 5.2 0.3
    20–24 9.1 5.9
    25–34 22.7 27.5
    35–44 22.3 28.8
    45–54 20.4 20.1
    55–59 8.8 6.9
    60–64 6.5 4.7
    65 and Over 4.9 5.8

    Education

    Registration with one of Australia's three peak accounting bodies is required.

    Visit

    • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
    • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
    • Your Career to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Accountants
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 29.1
    Bachelor degree 23.2 56.4
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 5.9
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 1.9
    Year 12 15.9 3.8
    Year 11 4.0 0.3
    Year 10 and below 9.7 0.6
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      Occupation profiles data

      This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

      Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      Occupation profiles data - November 2024.xlsx

      occupation_profiles_data_-_november_2024.xlsx946664

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      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.