In France, the accounting market is under pressure to recruit. Firms are struggling to fill positions for accounting assistants and general accountants, which is prompting employers to revise their hiring offers for junior profiles. The salary of a novice in accounting, however, depends on less visible parameters than a simple salary grid: applicable collective agreement, mastery of a specific ERP, geographical location, and the nature of the employing structure.
Collective agreement for accounting firms and minimum salaries at the start of a career
The salary framework for a beginner in a firm is not limited to a negotiation between the parties. The collective agreement for accounting firms and statutory auditors sets minimums that govern remuneration from the moment of hiring. Since 2022, the social partners in this sector have made regular adjustments to these minimums, at a rate higher than the general increases observed in the rest of the tertiary sector.
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This dynamic can be explained by two simultaneous pressures: inflation, which has made the old minimums less attractive, and direct competition from positions in management control or corporate finance. A novice who is hesitating between an accounting firm and a payroll manager position in a company now compares offers that are close in terms of gross starting salary. Understanding the salary of a novice in accounting therefore requires reading the applicable collective grid even before looking at job offers.
In practice, mid-sized firms and national networks often apply salaries above these minimums to avoid losing candidates to the Big Four or the financial departments of large groups.
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ERP skills and international experience: the levers that make a difference in starting salary
Not all junior profiles start from the same point. The 2024-2025 salary barometers from specialized recruitment firms (Robert Half, Hays, PageGroup) indicate a notable gap between two categories of beginners.
Novices proficient in an ERP such as SAP, Oracle, or Sage X3 are offered significantly higher starting salaries than those who come with training focused on more basic tools. A first experience in an international environment, even a six-month internship in a foreign subsidiary, has the same leverage effect on the fixed salary offered.
This premium for software skills deserves to be nuanced. It mainly concerns positions in companies (general accounting, accounts payable, consolidation) and less so for local accounting firms, where professional tools often remain dedicated software for the profession. Therefore, the choice of training and internships directly influences the salary level accessible right after graduation.
What recruiters check during the interview
- The ability to navigate an ERP without lengthy additional training, which reduces the integration cost for the employer and justifies a higher gross salary from the start.
- Experience, even short, in processing accounting flows in English or in a multi-currency context, a sign of adaptability sought by mid-sized companies and large groups.
- Practical knowledge of French reporting obligations (VAT, tax returns), which distinguishes an operational candidate from one who is still too academic.
Fixed salary and overall package: what job offers in accounting do not always disclose
Since 2023, several major accounting networks have been communicating about entry packages that go beyond the displayed fixed salary. Performance bonuses, partial coverage of the diploma (DCG, DSCG), and two to three days of remote work per week are now part of the offer made to novices.
The problem is that this overall remuneration is not reflected in traditional salary comparisons. A position advertised with a modest annual gross salary may turn out to be more interesting than a better-displayed position but without any additional benefits. Comparing only the annual gross salary skews the analysis for a beginner looking to maximize their actual remuneration.
Remote work, often presented as mere comfort, also has a direct financial impact. A novice who avoids two hours of daily commuting in Île-de-France saves on travel expenses and gains time that can be dedicated to preparing for a higher diploma, thus accelerating their future salary progression.
Salary gap for accountants between Paris and regional cities
The 2024 surveys from APEC confirm a significant increase in starting salaries for juniors in accounting in major cities such as Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux. The shortage of profiles is more pronounced there, which drives offers upward.
On the other hand, the available data does not allow for a conclusion of complete convergence between Paris and medium-sized cities. The cost of living gap partially mitigates the Parisian advantage, but a junior accounting assistant in Paris still retains a nominal salary higher than their counterpart in a medium-sized urban area.
Why some beginners choose the provinces despite a lower salary
The calculation is not limited to the annual gross. A junior accountant based in a regional metropolis where rent represents a smaller portion of their income can achieve equivalent or even higher savings capacity. Regional firms, also facing recruitment pressure, offer working conditions (hours, supervision, diversity of files) that are sometimes more favorable for rapid skill development.
The accounting sector offers beginners a salary framework that is undergoing significant restructuring. The conventional minimums are increasing, packages are becoming richer, and mastery of targeted technical skills (ERP, international environment) creates disparities from the moment of hiring. The gross salary alone is no longer sufficient to evaluate an offer: additional benefits, location, and diploma prospects weigh equally in the choice of a first accounting position.