South Africa finance salary benchmarks 2025/26: a complete guide.
Executive leadership · CA(SA) post-articles · Management accounting · Tax & treasury · Operational finance · Junior finance
Salary benchmarking is one of the most common requests Blue Recruiting receives from both employers and candidates. Employers need to know whether their packages are competitive enough to attract and retain qualified finance professionals. Candidates need to know whether they are being offered fair market value, and what to expect as they progress through their careers.
This guide presents Blue Recruiting's salary ranges for finance roles across South Africa for 2025/26, drawn from our placement data and market benchmarking activity across Johannesburg, Cape Town, and key regional markets. All figures represent Total Cost to Company and exclude performance bonuses, incentives, and long-term benefits.
About this data
Ranges reflect Blue Recruiting placement data and market benchmarking across South Africa for 2025/26. Figures represent Total Cost to Company and exclude incentives, bonuses, and long-term benefits. Compensation varies by company size, sector, complexity, and leadership scope.
Executive leadership
Executive finance roles in South Africa are almost exclusively held by CA(SA)-qualified professionals. Compensation at this level varies significantly by the size and complexity of the business, the scope of the CFO or Finance Director mandate, and whether the role carries a JSE listing or international reporting obligation.
| Role | Qualification | Salary Range (CTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Financial Officer (JSE / Large Corporate) | CA(SA) | R3.0m – R5.0m+ |
| Chief Financial Officer (Mid-Market / SME) | CA(SA) | R2.0m – R3.0m |
| Finance Director (Large Corporate) | CA(SA) | R2.5m – R3.5m |
| Finance Director (Mid-Market / SME) | CA(SA) | R1.8m – R2.6m |
| Head of Finance | CA(SA) | R1.6m – R2.3m |
Qualified CA(SA) — post-articles salary progression
The CA(SA) salary trajectory is one of the most predictable in the South African finance market. Newly qualified CAs enter the market at a relatively compressed range, but the progression is consistent and significant. A CA with seven to ten years of post-qualifying experience earns more than double the starting package of a newly qualified professional.
| Experience Level | Qualification | Salary Range (CTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Newly Qualified | CA(SA) | R620k – R720k |
| 1 – 2 years post-qualifying experience | CA(SA) | R680k – R820k |
| 3 – 5 years post-qualifying experience | CA(SA) | R850k – R1.15m |
| 5 – 7 years post-qualifying experience | CA(SA) | R1.0m – R1.4m |
| 7 – 10 years post-qualifying experience | CA(SA) | R1.3m – R1.8m |
Senior and management finance
This category covers the roles that sit between newly qualified and executive level — the Finance Manager, Financial Controller, and FP&A Manager positions that form the backbone of most corporate finance functions. The CA(SA) premium is most visible here: a CA-qualified Finance Manager earns materially more than a non-CA equivalent, reflecting both the qualification premium and the broader scope of work typically assigned to CA-qualified professionals.
| Role | Qualification | Salary Range (CTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Finance Manager | CA(SA) | R1.3m – R1.9m |
| Finance Manager | CA(SA) | R900k – R1.35m |
| Finance Manager | Non-CA | R650k – R900k |
| Group Financial Controller | CA(SA) | R1.2m – R1.8m |
| Financial Controller | CA(SA) | R900k – R1.3m |
| FP&A / Commercial Finance Manager | CA(SA) / CIMA | R900k – R1.4m |
| Finance Business Partner | CA(SA) / CIMA | R850k – R1.3m |
Analytical and commercial finance
Financial analysis and corporate finance roles attract strong compensation, particularly where the work involves financial modelling, capital markets, or M&A support. These roles are increasingly sought after by CAs who want to move away from traditional accounting and into more commercially focused positions.
| Role | Salary Range (CTC) |
|---|---|
| Senior Financial Analyst | R850k – R1.2m |
| Financial Analyst | R650k – R950k |
| Corporate Finance / Financial Modelling | R850k – R1.4m |
Tax, treasury and risk
Specialist functions command a premium that reflects both the scarcity of deep expertise and the regulatory complexity of the work. Treasury and tax professionals with five or more years of specialist experience are consistently among the most difficult finance professionals to recruit in South Africa, and compensation reflects this.
| Role | Salary Range (CTC) |
|---|---|
| Group Tax Manager | R1.1m – R1.6m |
| Tax Manager | R850k – R1.25m |
| Tax Accountant | R650k – R800k |
| Treasury Manager | R900k – R1.4m |
| Internal Audit Manager | R750k – R1.1m |
| Senior Internal Auditor | R600k – R900k |
CIMA and management accounting
CIMA-qualified professionals occupy a distinct segment of the South African finance market. They are particularly well represented in management accounting, cost accounting, and FP&A roles within manufacturing, retail, and FMCG businesses. The salary trajectory for CIMA professionals is somewhat lower than for CA(SA) at equivalent experience levels, but the gap narrows as professionals move into senior management accounting and commercial finance roles.
| Role / Experience Level | Qualification | Salary Range (CTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 2 years post-qualifying experience | CIMA | R600k – R750k |
| 2 – 5 years post-qualifying experience | CIMA | R750k – R1.0m |
| Cost & Management Accountant | — | R700k – R1.1m |
| Management Accountant | — | R600k – R850k |
Accounting and operational finance
Operational finance roles span a wide range of experience levels and qualification profiles. The CA(SA) premium is clearly visible at the Financial Accountant level, where a qualified CA earns materially more than a non-CA equivalent. For roles below the Financial Accountant level, compensation is driven primarily by years of experience and the complexity of the business environment.
| Role | Qualification | Salary Range (CTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Accountant | CA(SA) | R650k – R900k |
| Financial Accountant | Non-CA | R520k – R750k |
| Accountant (Articles + Honours) | CA(SA) | R450k – R865k |
| Accountant (2 – 5 years experience) | — | R380k – R500k |
| Credit Manager | — | R500k – R850k |
| Bookkeeper | — | R320k – R550k |
Junior finance and transactional roles
Junior and transactional finance roles are the entry point for many finance professionals and form a critical part of the operational finance function. Compensation at this level is driven primarily by years of experience, the size and complexity of the employer, and geographic location. Johannesburg and Cape Town typically pay at the upper end of these ranges.
| Role | Salary Range (CTC) |
|---|---|
| Credit Controller | R300k – R480k |
| Creditors Clerk | R240k – R420k |
| Debtors Clerk | R220k – R320k |
| Cashbook Clerk | R230k – R340k |
How to use this salary data
These ranges represent the market as Blue Recruiting observes it across active mandates and placements. They are a starting point, not a ceiling or a floor. Several factors will move an individual package above or below the published range.
Factors that push packages toward the upper end
JSE listing or international reporting line · Large and complex finance function · High-growth or private equity-backed business · Strong track record of progression · Johannesburg financial services sector
Factors that push packages toward the lower end
Smaller or owner-managed businesses · Regional markets outside Johannesburg and Cape Town · Narrower scope than the title implies · Lateral move rather than a step up
If you are benchmarking a specific role and need a more precise view of the market, contact Blue Recruiting directly. We provide confidential salary benchmarking as part of our client advisory service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the salary for a newly qualified CA(SA) in South Africa in 2025?
A newly qualified CA(SA) in South Africa can expect a Total Cost to Company package of between R620,000 and R720,000 in 2025/26. With one to two years of post-qualifying experience, this rises to R680,000 to R820,000.
What does a CFO earn in South Africa?
A Chief Financial Officer at a JSE-listed or large corporate earns between R3.0 million and R5.0 million CTC per annum. At a mid-market or SME business, the range is R2.0 million to R3.0 million CTC.
What is the salary for a Finance Manager in South Africa?
A CA(SA)-qualified Finance Manager earns between R900,000 and R1.35 million CTC. A non-CA Finance Manager earns between R650,000 and R900,000 CTC. The qualification premium at this level is typically R200,000 to R450,000 per annum.
Are these salary ranges Total Cost to Company or take-home?
All salary ranges represent Total Cost to Company (CTC). This includes the employer's contribution to medical aid, retirement fund, and all other benefits. Take-home pay will be lower once PAYE, UIF, and benefit deductions are applied.
Do these salary ranges include bonuses?
No. All figures exclude performance bonuses, incentives, and long-term benefits such as share schemes or profit-sharing arrangements. Actual total remuneration may be materially higher in roles with significant variable pay components, particularly at executive level.
What is the difference between CA(SA) and non-CA salary ranges?
The CA(SA) premium varies by level. At the Financial Accountant level, the premium is approximately R130,000 to R150,000 CTC. At the Finance Manager level, it is approximately R250,000 to R450,000 CTC.
About This Guide
Data drawn from Blue Recruiting placement activity and market benchmarking across Johannesburg, Cape Town, and key regional markets for 2025/26.
All figures: Total Cost to Company
Excludes: Bonuses, incentives, long-term benefits
Markets: Johannesburg, Cape Town, key regional
Sections in this guide
Executive leadership
CA(SA) post-articles
Senior & management finance
Analytical & commercial finance
Tax, treasury & risk
CIMA & management accounting
Accounting & operational finance
Junior finance
Benchmark your package or your mandate
Whether you are a finance professional assessing your market value or an employer building a competitive offer, Blue Recruiting can give you a precise view of the current market for your specific role and sector.