Accountant (General)
Shortage Now
JSA currently reports no national or state/territory shortage signal for this occupation.
Snapshot
Median salary
Not available
People employed
139,100
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Provides services relating to compliance-based financial, non-financial and sustainability-related reporting, auditing, insolvency and accounting information systems, and advises on association record-keeping requirements.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Provides advice regarding business plans, structures and accounting systems
- Examines the income and expenditure of individuals and organisations
- Conducts financial investigations, prepares reports, and manages insolvency
- Assists in the formulation of budgetary and accounting policies
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
22%
Female rate
54%
Median age
40
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+8%
17,748 projected jobs
to 2035
+17%
34,964 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 1
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing may be required for certain services such as auditing.
Official VET pathways
Advanced Diploma of Accounting
Progression pathway
Diploma of Business
Progression pathway
Advanced Diploma of Business
Progression pathway
Diploma of Accounting
Progression pathway
Diploma of Credit Management
Progression pathway
Graduate Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing
Progression pathway
Graduate Diploma of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing
Progression pathway
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
847
ACT · May 2026
62
VIC · May 2026
843
NT · May 2026
15
SA · May 2026
175
NSW · May 2026
1,180
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Accountant (General).
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - Inner
10,071 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - Inner
10,071 employed
VIC
+8.08%
year on year
- 2
Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
10,070 employed
NSW
+4.2%
year on year
- 3
Melbourne - West
8,679 employed
VIC
-1.18%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - South East
8,314 employed
VIC
-2.96%
year on year
- 5
Sydney - Inner South West
7,256 employed
NSW
+8.15%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
129,480
Moved in from another occupation
13,600
Moved to another occupation
9,675
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
4
points
- 2
4
points
- 3
4
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 211131
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · Department of Home Affairs Core Skills Occupation List matched via ABS OSCA 2024 v1.0 correspondence Table 2
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: official-profile-and-csol.