Key takeaways

• Experience and education matter because senior-level positions with higher education requirements command bigger salaries.
• Job seekers with specialized accounting experience may offset their higher salaries with next-level expertise.
• Key certifications can boost salary expectations but may also make those potential employees worth your while to pursue.
• Mean and median salaries may vary wildly depending on your geographic location, so consider that before making job offers.

1. Tax Partner

Mean salary: $289,610
Median salary: $351,951

Tax partners lead tax departments at accounting or law firms, providing leadership and client management with their in-depth tax knowledge. This senior-level position requires those who hold it to deliver strategic tax advice while ensuring their clients comply with tax laws.

2. State and Local Tax Manager

Mean salary: $153,398
Median salary: $192,500

State and local tax managers work in companies or accounting firms, helping their businesses navigate the complexities of tax laws in their locales. These professionals manage compliance issues to prevent companies from incurring penalties, develop strategies for tax savings and prepare and review tax returns.

3. Audit Partner

Mean salary: $194,372
Median salary: $192,500

Audit partners oversee the audit department in accounting firms, ensuring the quality of work complies with exacting standards. This senior position requires a firm foundation in accounting and auditing processes, great communication and leadership skills, and excellent strategic planning.

4. Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis

Mean salary: $177,201
Median salary: $180,641

A vice president of financial planning and analysis oversees several key processes for companies, including budgeting, strategic planning and forecasting. Those in this executive-level position also analyze financial trends, prepare models and advise senior management based on their findings to boost productivity and growth with informed decision-making.

5. Tax Director

Mean salary: $174,542
Median salary: $176,949

Tax directors oversee tax policies and strategies within companies with in-depth knowledge of federal, state and local tax regulations, strong analytical skills and excellent leadership abilities. These senior-level professionals manage tax planning, research and audits and advise companies concerning tax implications.

6. Senior Director of Accounting

Mean salary: $159,445
Median salary: $170,195

A senior director of accounting supervises businesses’ accounting processes and reporting to ensure accuracy and financial record compliance. These executive-level professionals also oversee accounting staff, provide financial planning strategy, coordinate audits and manage financial risks by developing stringent internal controls.

7. Vice President of Accounting

Mean salary: $161,782
Median salary: $166,641

Tasked with overseeing the accounting department, a vice president of accounting maintains the accuracy and integrity of a company’s financial compliance and reporting. These senior executives head up accounting operations, put internal controls in place and collaborate with other executives to develop informed strategies that meet their companies’ financial objectives.

8. Reimbursement Manager

Mean salary: $142,094
Median salary: $162,500

Reimbursement managers work for healthcare organizations securing payments from insurance companies and other payers. Responsible for managing billing operations, these managers also analyze and report on industry trends and ensure contracts their companies make comply with healthcare regulations.

9. Director of Internal Audit

Mean salary: $145,410
Median salary: $155,642

Responsible for planning and conducting audits and reporting findings to senior management, a director of internal audit ensures companies comply with financial and operational processes. These leaders look for areas that need improvements, actively seek ways to manage risk and optimize internal controls.

10. Head of Accounting

Mean salary: $132,875
Median salary: $153,333

A head of accounting manages every facet of accounting within an organization, supervises the accounting team and oversees preparation of financial statements and reports. Tasked with ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations, these professionals develop internal control policies, coordinate with outside auditors and help with financial planning.

11. Senior Tax Manager

Mean salary: $147,827
Median salary: $151,749

Senior tax managers supervise companies’ tax strategies, planning and compliance to make sure they stay within the boundaries of tax law while optimizing their tax positions. In addition to overseeing teams of tax professionals, these managers prepare and file tax returns and advise organizations concerning how their business decisions impact their tax liabilities.

12. Senior Credit Specialist

Mean salary: $144,066
Median salary: $150,573

Senior credit specialists review credit applications, assess the creditworthiness of loan seekers and decide whether to extend them credit opportunities. Responsible for monitoring and reporting on credit risk and setting credit limits, these professionals also analyze financial data to better develop credit procedures and policies.

13. Unit Controller

Mean salary: $146,787
Median salary: $150,000

Unit controllers manage and oversee financial aspects of specific departments within larger companies. Responsible for budgeting, forecasting, analysis and reporting within their divisions, these professionals keep their units’ operations aligned with their companies’ overarching objectives and handle internal audits and compliance issues.

14. Senior Audit Supervisor

Mean salary: $128,842
Median salary: $147,500

Senior audit supervisors plan, execute and oversee auditing projects to maintain their accuracy, efficiency and compliance with stringent regulations and standards. Responsible for leading audit teams and reviewing their findings, these professionals communicate results and make recommendations to management.

15. Senior Financial Reporting Manager

Mean salary: $138,719
Median salary: $140,000

Tasked with overseeing the preparation and distribution of organizations’ financial statements, senior financial reporting managers ensure their companies comply with relevant laws and regulations. These managers ensure financial data accuracy, coordinate with auditors and confer results to senior management.

16. Corporate Controller

Mean salary: $133,649
Median salary: $139,631

Corporate controllers supervise companies’ accounting and financial operations, managing records, preparing statements and implementing internal controls. Also responsible for accurate, timely financial reporting, professionals in this executive-level position also oversee budgets and forecasts and ensure regulatory compliance.

17. Chief Accounting Officer

Mean salary: $123,879
Median salary: $136,356

Responsible for overseeing every accounting action within an organization, a chief accounting officer (CAO) guides their company’s financial policy and strategy while ensuring regulatory compliance. Those in this executive role also supervise teams, maintain accurate financial reports and manage internal controls.

18. Director of Financial Planning and Analysis

Mean salary: $129,773
Median salary: $136,046

A director of financial planning and analysis analyzes financial data to identify trends and provides financial planning advice. Tasked with optimizing business processes, these professionals collaborate with senior management to develop financial forecasts, optimize budgeting and guide their companies’ growth strategies and financial decisions.

19. Director of Accounting

Mean salary: $128,172
Median salary: $134,682

A director of accounting manages accounting staff, supervises financial processes and prepares financial statements. Responsible for coordination with external auditors, those in this position also ensure compliance with accounting standards and the accuracy of financial reports.

20. Tax Manager

Mean salary: $129,715
Median salary: $130,947

Tax managers guide organizations’ tax strategy, planning and compliance, adhering to tax law while maximizing legal credits and deductions. These professionals prepare and review tax forms and filings for their companies, research regulations and manage local, state and federal tax audits.

21. Senior Credit Manager

Mean salary: $126,024
Median salary: $130,000

Senior credit managers supervise their companies’ credit departments, setting policies that manage risk and ensure alignment with organizational goals. These professionals analyze credit data, set credit limits, oversee assessments and manage client and collaborator relationships.

22. Financial Reporting Manager

Mean salary: $119,287
Median salary: $125,000

Responsible for supervising financial statement preparation and distribution for their companies, financial reporting managers keep organizations in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. These professionals coordinate with accounting teams, optimize auditing processes and analyze financial data to determine their companies’ financial health.

23. Division Controller

Mean salary: $121,307
Median salary: $123,624

Division controllers manage financial reporting, budgeting and accounting for specific divisions within larger businesses. Responsible for aligning their divisions with larger organizational goals, these professionals analyze data to inform decision-making, maintain regulatory compliance and prepare accurate financial statements.

24. Senior Estimator

Mean salary: $120,907
Median salary: $122,678

Responsible for predicting costs with accuracy, senior estimators analyze blueprints, specifications and related documents to properly plan construction and manufacturing projects. They outline the time, resources and labor required for various processes and deliver precise pricing forecasts to assist with competitive bidding.

25. Senior Accounting Manager

Mean salary: $114,693
Median salary: $119,519

Senior accounting managers handle daily operations for companies’ accounting departments, overseeing compliance with accounting standards and ensuring accurate financial reporting. These professionals also manage accounting staff, coordinate financial audits and prepare financial statements.

¹Indeed data (US), Dec 2022 – Dec 2023