Top Accountancy Partners in Israel Earn Up to 5 Million Shekels Annually

A Bizportal investigation reveals that senior partners at Israel's largest accounting firms earn between 1.5 and 1.8 million shekels annually, while managing partners or division heads can make between 3 and 5 million shekels per year. These partners hold equity stakes in their firms and receive profit distributions based on seniority, client portfolios, and contribution to revenues. The five biggest firms in Israel, EY, Deloitte, KPMG, BDO, and PwC, employ over 500 partners combined, including 50 to 70 managing partners and founders who earn significantly higher salaries.

The path to partnership typically takes 14 to 18 years and involves professional training, team management, client acquisition, and regulatory responsibility. Only a small fraction of trainees reach full partnership, with many leaving or remaining as managers. Partners leading audits for major banks, insurance companies, real estate groups, or tech firms tend to have greater profit shares. The compensation levels of these partners are comparable to CEOs of reputable public companies.

Accounting firms operate as private partnerships, so individual partner salaries remain confidential. However, the sector generates substantial profits, with about 500 partners earning at levels similar to 1,200 senior executives in publicly traded companies in Israel. Despite the lucrative earnings, the profession faces future challenges from AI and evolving industry demands. Lower and mid-level salaries have only recently improved due to workforce shortages.

Many senior executives in public companies, including CFOs and accountants, have backgrounds as accountants or partners, highlighting accounting as a high-paying career with multiple advancement routes either within firms or into corporate leadership roles. The full report was originally published by Bizportal.