This complete guide presents all aspects of the profession: daily missions, necessary training, real salaries practiced in Belgium, and career opportunities. Whether you are a student, in career transition, or simply curious about the sector, you will find all the verified information here to make an informed decision.
What is a General Accountant?
Definition and Role
The general accountant is the professional responsible for the organization, maintenance, operation, and verification of the general, analytical, and budgetary accounting of a company or institution. Contrary to what one might think, this job is not limited to "lining up numbers": the general accountant is a true strategic partner of management.
Their role is essential: they guarantee the organization's financial health by ensuring compliance with Belgian accounting and tax legislation, while providing the figures that allow managers to make informed decisions.
Key Daily Missions
The responsibilities of the general accountant are varied and cover the entire accounting cycle:
- Recording accounting transactions: Daily entry of purchase and sales invoices, expense reports, bank transactions, in compliance with the Belgian chart of accounts.
- Treasury management: Monitoring collections and disbursements, bank reconciliations, cash flow forecasts.
- Preparation of tax documents: Monthly or quarterly VAT declarations, annual tax declarations, intra-Community listings.
- Account closing: Preparation of the annual balance sheet, income statement, and all legal accounting documentation required by the FPS Economy.
- Financial analysis: Development of dashboards, financial ratios, analysis of profitability by activity.
- Communication: Liaison with external auditors, certified public accountants, the tax administration, and, of course, the company's management.
Note: Mastery of professional accounting software (SAP, Sage, Exact Online, Odoo) and advanced Excel has become indispensable in 2025.
Work Environments
The general accountant can work in three distinct types of environments, each offering specific advantages:
- In a company (internal accountant): The accountant works for a single organization (SME, large company, non-profit organization, public administration). They know their company perfectly, participate in management meetings, and can progress to chief accountant or management controller positions. Stable environment with regular hours.
- In a fiduciary or accounting firm: The accountant manages a portfolio of various clients (self-employed, SMEs, liberal professions). This versatility allows for rapid acquisition of diversified expertise but involves peak activity during closing periods and tax declarations. Excellent springboard for starting a career.
- As a self-employed professional: After obtaining certification from the ITAA (Institute for Tax Advisors and Accountants), the accountant can start their own business. This option requires several years of experience and a solid professional network but offers great autonomy and potentially higher income.
Required Training and Qualifications
Academic Path: The Bachelor's in Accounting
In Belgium, the primary route to becoming a general accountant is the Bachelor's in Accounting, a short-type degree (180 ECTS credits) awarded by the Hautes Écoles (Higher Education Institutions). This 3-year training is recognized by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and directly opens the doors to the job market.
Crucial Point: The third year includes an internship of 14 to 15 weeks, allowing for real professional immersion and greatly facilitating integration into the job market.
Three Specialization Options
From the second year, students choose an option according to their professional project:
- Management Option: Versatile training with strengthening in strategic management tools, management control, and two foreign languages. Ideal for working in a company or SME.
- Taxation Option: Deepening of Belgian tax matters (direct and indirect taxation, procedures, litigation). Specifically prepares for the ITAA admission exams to become a certified expert accountant or tax consultant.
- Banking and Finance Option: Specialization in financial and banking techniques, in-depth economic analysis. Opens up prospects towards financial institutions.
Further Studies: The Master's and ITAA Certification
The Bachelor's in Accounting allows direct access to employment, but for those wishing to become a certified expert accountant or certified tax consultant, two paths are available:
- Master's in Accounting and Tax Expertise (120 credits, 2 years): Offered through co-diplomation by several institutions, this master's can be pursued through work-study (alternance). It offers up to 10 exemptions on the ITAA admission exams, significantly accelerating the certification process.
- ITAA Pathway (Institute for Tax Advisors and Accountants): To officially use the title of certified expert accountant or certified tax consultant and practice independently, it is mandatory to:Pass the ITAA admission exam.Complete a 3-year professional internship under the supervision of an approved supervisor.Pass the final ITAA aptitude exam.Register in the ITAA public register.
- Pass the ITAA admission exam.
- Complete a 3-year professional internship under the supervision of an approved supervisor.
- Pass the final ITAA aptitude exam.
- Register in the ITAA public register.
This long path (about 6–8 years total) is reserved for those aiming for the status of independent expert accountant. The vast majority of general accountants practice without this certification, with excellent career prospects.
Essential Skills and Qualities
Beyond diplomas, the general accountant role requires a set of technical skills and personal qualities:
| Technical Skills | Personal Qualities |
| Perfect mastery of the Belgian chart of accounts and IFRS standards | Absolute rigor and precision |
| In-depth knowledge of Belgian tax and social legislation | Organization and priority management |
| Comfort with IT tools: accounting software, advanced Excel, BI tools | Confidentiality and ethics |
| Financial analysis and synthesis capacity | Communication skills (explaining complex concepts) |
| Adaptability (digitalization, new standards, new software) |
Good to know: No prior knowledge of accounting is required to start a Bachelor's in Accounting. The training starts from scratch and is suitable for both high school graduates and adults in career transition.
Salaries and Remuneration in Belgium (2024–2025)
One of the most frequent questions concerns remuneration. Here are the real figures for the Belgian market, based on 2024–2025 salary studies:
Salary Scale According to Experience
| Experience Level | Monthly Gross Salary | Annual Gross Salary |
| Beginner (0–2 years) | €2,200 – €2,800 | €26,400 – €33,600 |
| Junior (2–3 years) | €2,700 – €3,200 | €32,400 – €38,400 |
| Confirmed (3–6 years) | €3,000 – €4,100 | €36,000 – €49,200 |
| Senior (6–10 years) | €3,700 – €4,800 | €44,400 – €57,600 |
| Expert (10+ years) | €4,500 – €5,500+ | €54,000 – €66,000+ |
Salary Variations by Region
The workplace significantly influences remuneration. 2025 data shows notable differences between the three Belgian regions:
- Brussels: €3,696 gross/month on average (highest salary due to cost of living and concentration of international companies).
- Flanders: €3,388 gross/month on average.
- Wallonia: €3,295 gross/month on average.
Impact of Employer Type
The sector of activity and the size of the organization also play a crucial role:
- Large companies and multinationals: Salaries generally 15–20% above average, with more comprehensive benefit packages.
- Banking and insurance sectors: Among the highest remunerations on the market (can exceed €5,000 gross/month for a senior).
- Fiduciaries/Accounting Firms: Starting salaries often slightly lower, compensated by rapid skill development (managing multiple files).
Extra-Legal Benefits
In Belgium, the remuneration package is not limited to the gross salary. Extra-legal benefits can represent up to 30% of the total remuneration and generally include:
- Meal vouchers: Up to €160 per month (standard in most companies).
- Year-end bonus (13th month): Equivalent to one month's salary.
- Group and hospitalisation insurance: Medical coverage and supplementary pension.
- Company car: Around 70% of companies offer it to experienced accountants (5+ years).
- Remote work: 2–3 days per week is now standard in the majority of companies.
- Continuous training: Annual training budget to keep skills up to date.
Concrete Example: A confirmed accountant with 5 years of experience in Brussels earning €3,500 gross can have a total real package approaching €4,500–€5,000 once all benefits are accounted for.
The Job Market for Accountants in Belgium
An Officially Shortage Profession
The general accountant role has been on the official list of shortage professions in Belgium for 2025, and for several consecutive years. This classification is significant: it reflects a structural imbalance between supply and demand in the labor market.
Some telling figures:
- 68 shortage professions in Wallonia, including the accountant (Forem 2025).
- Over 900 job offers for accountants on the Namur Forem site alone.
- More than 40% of job offers published in Wallonia concern shortage professions, including accounting.
Practical Consequence: As a job seeker or student in accounting training, you can benefit from availability exemptions, Incitant+ bonuses (€350), and priority access to Forem training.
Causes of the Shortage
Several factors explain this situation favorable to candidates:
- Massive Retirements: Forem indicates that in the accounting sector, retirements will be particularly significant in the next 5 years. The baby-boomer generation is gradually leaving the labor market, creating an urgent need for staff renewal.
- Complexification of Accounting and Tax Standards: European regulations (IFRS, GDPR, ESG standards), Belgian tax changes, and reporting obligations increase the workload of accounting departments.
- Digital Transformation of the Profession: Paradoxically, automation does not reduce the need for accountants: it transforms the job towards higher value-added tasks (analysis, advice, control). Companies seek profiles capable of mastering new tools (cloud, AI, RPA) while retaining professional expertise.
- Limited Candidate Pool: Currently, 45% of job seekers in Wallonia do not have the CESS (Certificate of Higher Secondary Education), which limits access to higher education in accounting.
Career Development Prospects
The general accountant role is not a dead end: on the contrary, it offers multiple professional development trajectories. Here are the main possible paths after 5–10 years of experience:
- Vertical Progression (Hierarchical):Chief Accountant / Accounting Manager: Supervision of a team, coordination of closings, interface with management and auditors (Salary: €3,800–€5,500).Administrative and Financial Director (DAF/CFO): Management of the entire finance function, financial strategy, member of the management committee (Salary: €5,500–€8,000+).
- Chief Accountant / Accounting Manager: Supervision of a team, coordination of closings, interface with management and auditors (Salary: €3,800–€5,500).
- Administrative and Financial Director (DAF/CFO): Management of the entire finance function, financial strategy, member of the management committee (Salary: €5,500–€8,000+).
- Horizontal Progression (Specialization):Management Controller: Analysis of profitability, development of budgets, strategic dashboards (Salary: €3,500–€5,000).Certified Expert Accountant / Certified Tax Consultant: After ITAA certification, independent practice or in a firm (Variable income, potentially €6,000+).
- Management Controller: Analysis of profitability, development of budgets, strategic dashboards (Salary: €3,500–€5,000).
- Certified Expert Accountant / Certified Tax Consultant: After ITAA certification, independent practice or in a firm (Variable income, potentially €6,000+).
The Impact of Technology on the Profession
Digitalization is profoundly transforming the general accountant role. Contrary to initial fears, automation does not replace accountants: it redefines their missions towards higher value-added tasks.
- Automation of Repetitive Tasks: Modern software automates invoice entry (OCR), bank reconciliations, and the generation of recurring accounting entries. Result: Estimated time saving of 30–40% on administrative tasks.
- Cloud and Collaborative Work: Cloud accounting solutions (Exact Online, Odoo, Sage Business Cloud) allow remote work, real-time access to data, and simplified client-accountant collaboration. This has become the standard in 2025.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI detects accounting anomalies, suggests account classifications, and anticipates fraud risks. The accountant supervises and validates these suggestions, adding their professional expertise.
This technological evolution repositions the general accountant:
- Less manual entry → More analysis and interpretation.
- Less production → More control and validation.
- Less executor → More advisor.
Conclusion: Technology does not threaten the accounting profession, it enhances it. Technical skills (software) become as important as professional skills (accounting standards). This is excellent news for new entrants who naturally master digital tools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Do you have to be good at mathematics to become an accountant?
No, contrary to a common misconception. Accounting essentially uses the four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and some percentages. Software performs all complex calculations. What truly matters is logic, rigor, and understanding of accounting mechanisms.
2. Can you become an accountant without a Bachelor's degree?
Yes, via social promotion training or work-study (alternance) (IFAPME, EFP). However, the Bachelor's in Accounting (Haute École) remains the most valued path in the job market and offers the best career prospects.
3. What is the difference between an accountant and a certified expert accountant?
The General Accountant (with a Bachelor's) can work as an employee in a company or firm. The Certified Expert Accountant is a title protected by law, reserved for professionals registered with the ITAA after passing an aptitude exam and completing a 3-year internship. Only the Certified Expert Accountant can perform certain legal missions and establish their own independent firm.
4. Is remote work possible in accounting?
Yes, widely. Since 2020, remote work has become widespread thanks to cloud software. In 2025, the majority of job offers propose 2 to 3 days of remote work per week.
5. Are there international opportunities?
Absolutely. The Belgian Bachelor's in Accounting is recognized in the European Union (ECTS system). With good mastery of English and/or Dutch, opportunities exist in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, and Canada.
6. Will the accounting profession disappear with AI?
No. Studies show that the profession will transform, not disappear. Automation eliminates repetitive tasks, but professional judgment, interpretation of standards, analysis of complex situations, and strategic advice remain human roles. The proof: the profession is in a shortage despite increasing digitalization.
7. How long does it take to find a job after graduation?
Very quickly. Given the shortage, the majority of graduates find a job within 3 months of obtaining the Bachelor's degree. Many are even contacted during their third-year internship by their host company offering a permanent contract.
8. Is speaking Dutch mandatory in Belgium?
It depends on the region and the employer type. In pure Wallonia, French is largely sufficient. In Brussels, French-Dutch bilingualism is a major asset that opens more opportunities and allows for negotiating higher salaries. In international companies, English can compensate.
The General Accountant, a Strategic Choice in 2025
The general accountant role in Belgium today represents one of the best professional opportunities for several objective reasons:
- Maximum Job Security: Official shortage profession, constant high demand, near-zero unemployment rate in the sector.
- Attractive and Evolving Remuneration: Good starting salary (€2,200–€2,800), rapid possible progression, comprehensive packages with extra-legal benefits.
- Accessible Training: 3-year Bachelor's degree in many Hautes Écoles, possibility of work-study training, no high mathematical prerequisite.
- Multiple Development Prospects: Chief Accountant, DAF, Management Controller, Auditor, Independent Expert Accountant.
- Positive Transformation: Digitalization enhances the role, less repetitive tasks, more analysis and advice.
- Flexibility: Widespread remote work, choice between company/fiduciary/independent, possible international mobility.
