Let’s be honest: accounting in an accounting firm is an endurance job. Between quarterly VAT deadlines, clients dropping off invoices at the last minute, and digitalization reshuffling the cards, you need to know whether the game is worth the candle. In Belgium, the market is in a state of structural overheating. This means that if you are competent, you hold the negotiating power, not the employer.
But only if you know the real numbers—the ones discussed behind closed interview doors, not the official statistics that are often one step behind reality.
Monthly Gross Salary: Experience-Based Analysis (2026)
Talking about an “average” salary is misleading—it flattens reality. In accounting firms, your value depends not only on seniority, but on your ability to bill and manage a client file from A to Z. Below is the real market picture, based on placements carried out by Fed Finance in Wallonia and Brussels at the start of 2026.
1. Junior Accountant (0–2 years): The Investment Phase
You have just graduated (Bachelor in Accounting or Master’s degree). Let’s be clear: at this stage, you cost more than you generate for the firm. Your salary reflects this intensive training period.
Gross range: €2,300 to €2,800 per month
What drives the difference:
- Degree: A Master’s degree (HEC, Solvay, LSM) can add around €200 at entry level compared to a Bachelor, although the gap quickly fades with practice.
- Software skills: Being operational on WinBooks, Bob 50, or Silverfin allows you to aim for the top of the range.
- Location: In Brussels, juniors rarely start below €2,500. In provinces (Namur, Liège, Hainaut), €2,300 remains common, offset by lower living costs.
2. File Manager (Medior: 3–5 years): The Turning Point
This is where everything changes. You no longer ask basic technical questions, you manage your own clients, and you start supervising juniors. You are now profitable.
Gross range: €3,200 to €3,900 per month
Consultant insight: Between years 3 and 4, many accountants remain stuck at their indexed entry salary, even though their market value has exploded. If you manage 40–50 client files autonomously and earn less than €3,500 gross or have no company car, you are below market. This is the critical moment where changing employer often triggers a +15% salary jump.
3. Senior & Certified Accountant (ITAA): The “Rare Asset”
Beyond six years—or upon obtaining the ITAA title—you enter a category where shortages are critical. Firms compete aggressively for these profiles to reassure clients and sign off on accounts.
Gross range: €4,000 to €5,800+ per month
Status nuance:
- Employee: Salaries often cap around €5,500 gross due to prohibitive employer costs.
- Independent (freelance): Hourly billing (€65–€90/hour) or fixed fees allow far greater tax optimization than salaried status.
Beyond Gross Salary: The “Real” Pay (Net & Benefits)
With one of Europe’s highest labor tax burdens, negotiating additional gross salary quickly becomes inefficient. Smart accountants negotiate net take-home pay and lifestyle comfort. This is where modern firms make the difference in 2026.
Company Car: From Perk to Standard
Ten years ago, this was reserved for managers. Today, thanks to green taxation, it’s a core compensation tool.
- Who gets it? Almost systematic from Medior level (3 years). Increasingly offered to high-potential Juniors after probation.
- 2026 models: Diesel is gone. Expect electric vehicles (BMW iX1, Volvo EX30, Tesla, Audi Q4 e-tron).
Mobility Budget tip: Some firms now offer the federal Mobility Budget. If you live near the office or commute by train, you can exchange the car for rent or mortgage payments (under conditions)—often far more profitable than a car sitting idle.
Flat-Rate Expenses (Net Fees)
A favorite lever to increase net income without social contributions.
Typical amounts:
- Representation expenses: €50–€150/month
- Remote work allowance: ~€150/month (indexed)
- Internet / mobile: €20–€50/month
Real impact: €200–€300 net per month. To achieve the same via gross salary, you’d need nearly €600 in employer cost. Always check this line in your contract proposal.
At this stage, you know your market value. But salary never stands alone—it must be weighed against workload and location. In 2026, two major dilemmas divide Belgian accountants: “Firm vs In-House?” and “Brussels vs Province?”
Let’s analyze both financially and strategically.
The Big Match: Accounting Firm vs In-House Accountant
Same title, radically different reality.
1. Accounting Firm: The Profit School
In a firm, you are a profit center. Your time is billable. Pressure is higher—but negotiation leverage is stronger.
- Starting salary: Slightly lower than in-house (-5% to -10%) due to training cost.
- Career curve: Exponential. Strong seniors can negotiate portfolio-based bonuses or switch to freelance, breaking the salaried ceiling.
- Hidden advantage: Company cars arrive much earlier than in-house roles.
2. In-House Accounting: The “Golden Cage”?
You work for one company, managing a single set of accounts.
- Starting salary: Often higher (+€200 to €400 gross for juniors).
- 2026 trap: Stagnation. Once mastered, salary often only follows indexation unless the CFO leaves.
- Work-life balance: Fixed hours, no multi-client VAT rush. Security choice.
Consultant verdict: “If you’re under 30, stay in a firm. One year in a firm equals three years in-house on the job market. Leave for stability—not money.”
Digitalization Impact on Your Paycheck
In 2026, manual bookkeeping is commoditized. AI and mandatory B2B e-invoicing have killed the data-entry accountant.
Top earners are hybrid digital accountants.
Why they earn 15–20% more:
- Implementation of tools (Silverfin, Yuki, Horus)
- Real-time dashboards instead of backward-looking accounts
- Automation (CODA, UBL, PEPPOL) freeing time for high-value advisory work
Actionable advice: Replace “purchase/sales encoding” on your CV with “Workflow automation via PEPPOL and analytical reporting on Silverfin.” That keyword triggers interviews.
Brussels vs Wallonia vs Flanders: Salary Geography
Belgium is small—but salary gaps are large.
1. Brussels: Capital Premium
- +10% to +15% gross vs national average
- Watch the trap: €4,000 in Brussels can be less profitable than €3,600 in Namur once rent and commute are factored in.
- Best for CV-driven careers (Big 4 exposure).
2. Flanders: The Eldorado (If Bilingual)
- Often the highest salaries
- Dutch is mandatory
- If bilingual, you are extremely in demand in 2026.
3. Wallonia: Catch-Up Mode
- Focus on optimization, not raw gross
- High-end electric cars, flexible hours, four-day weeks
- Strong retention strategies to compete with Brussels and Luxembourg.
Ultimate Evolution: Employee vs Freelancer
The unspoken truth of the profession.
Salaried Ceiling
Even seniors struggle to exceed €5,500–€6,000 gross due to employer cost inflation.
Management Company / Freelance Model
- Day rates (2026): €550–€800/day
- Net gain: +30% to +40% for same overall cost to the firm
- Trade-off: No paid leave, no guaranteed 13th month, self-managed protection.
2026 Negotiation Guide: 3 Unbeatable Arguments
1. Billable Profitability
“€250,000 in recurring fees managed, 3 new clients acquired—align my package with performance.”
2. Win-Win Optimization
“Instead of gross, let’s optimize via mobility budget or net fees.”
3. Soft Market Pressure
“I’m approached for €4,200 + car. I prefer staying—but we must close the gap.”
FAQ (Google Snippet Optimized)
Average accountant salary in Belgium 2026?
Junior: ~€2,600 gross. Medior: €3,500–€4,000 gross. Senior/ITAA: €5,000+ or freelance.
Is a company car mandatory?
Not mandatory, but standard (90% of offers above 3 years). Mostly electric in 2026.
Does ITAA really change salary?
Yes. +20–30% immediately and access to partnership.
Final Word: Your Career Is Yours
Accounting in Belgium has changed. In 2026, you are a strategic advisor, data pilot, and tax expert. Your salary must reflect that.
If your current employer doesn’t value your digital and autonomous growth, the market will. Don’t let loyalty become an opportunity cost.
🚀 Ready to benchmark your salary against the real market? At Fed Finance, we help accountants secure roles that finally pay what their expertise is worth.
👉 View Accounting & Finance jobs in Belgium
