Ask A Recruiter: How Much Should An Accountant Earn In Kenya?

“I feel like I am underpaid, but I am not sure if what I am earning is in line with the market. There are some jobs I have seen that pay like Ksh. 10K more for a similar position and there are some that pay less than what I currently earn.

So I am not really sure just how much an accountant with two years’ experience should be earning. I have a salary review coming up and want to know exactly how much money I should ask for,” asks James.

Are you happy with your current salary?

As an accountant, do you know the average salary for someone with your years of experience?

Your salary is usually determined by a few factors such as the size of the organization you work for, your experience level, the industry you’re in, how well you negotiate before accepting a job as well as your job title.

That’s why you may find that you earn less than someone in the same job as you at a different organization.

However, there is an acceptable minimum amount that everyone with; for example, five years of accounting experience should be paid.

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The Average Salary of an Accountant with 2-5 Years of Experience

One thing you have to keep in mind is that every job is different and even though the job description might be similar it doesn’t mean that every accountant with the same experience level should earn the same.

According to Ida Kibunja, a recruitment manager at Corporate Staffing Services, an accountant with 2 to 5 years’ experience can get a salary of around KSh 40,000 to 100,000.

This, however, solely depends on your negotiations skills, the company, and the job description.

“While 40-60K is considered an average salary for accountants, job seekers and employees should not have expectations of being paid this particular amount,” she says.

“Some companies may offer to pay a 30K salary for a candidate with 3 years of experience, and others may offer to pay the same candidate 80K and above.”

It is not the money you should go demanding to your boss if you earn less, and it is not necessarily the amount you should quote in a job interview. Different organizations pay different salaries depending on their structure and budget.

For example, a multinational company like PWC will not pay the same as a startup with less than 20 employees.

So even when quoting a salary during interviews, you have to take into consideration the company size and the industry.

You need to do your research on an organization before every job interview if you are to impress with your expected salary. Otherwise, you may end up asking for too much or asking for too little.

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Therefore, before mentioning your expected salary during a job interview or complaining about your current pay, consider all the factors at play.

Ask yourself; how big or small is the organization? How many years of experience do you have? What added qualifications do you have that will guarantee you a high salary? What salary do competing organizations pay employees in your position?

These questions will help you discover the salary you deserve and help you with your next salary negotiation meeting.

Finally,

If you want to earn what you deserve then you first need to do some research on what someone in your industry with your experience is supposed to earn. Knowing the average will help you avoid being underpaid.