Salary gap: no longer a matter of "plus points
According to salary surveys from VietnamWorks, CareerLink and data compiled from thousands of accounting recruitment news posted in the first half of 2026, a newly graduated accountant who is not proficient in software is offered a starting salary of 7-9 million VND/month. Meanwhile, candidates with the same experience but proficient in MISA or Fast Accounting are classified into the salary group of 10-15 million VND/month right from the general accounting position.
The gap widens in the higher segment. The position of general accountant cum tax officer (2-3 years of experience, software proficiency) reaches 15-25 million VND/month. ERP system operation group such as SAP at FDI companies, multinational corporations with negotiated salaries from 20 million VND/month or more.
In other words, mastering software is no longer an "additional skill" in an accounting CV or a Finance - Banking industry CV, but is gradually becoming a necessary condition to enter the fairly well-paid area in the market.
The three most frequently appearing software in JD recruitment
Reviewing accounting recruitment news posted on job platforms in the past year, the three names most repeated in the "candidate requirements" section are:
- MISA (MISA SME. NET/AMIS Accounting) is most popular in the group of small and medium-sized enterprises, almost a "common language" of Vietnamese accounting.
- Fast Accounting/Fast Business Online is used by many medium and large-scale manufacturing and trading enterprises, requiring a certain amount of familiarization time but full subsystem.
- SAP mainly appears in JD of large enterprises, multinational corporations, accompanied by higher salaries and experience requirements.
General accounting, tax accounting or management accounting: who is paid higher?
Considering the current recruitment news level, general accounting is the position with the highest recruitment demand, but the salary level is in the middle group, because this is the "standard input" role of most businesses. Tax accounting receives slightly more thanks to high risk and legal responsibility. Meanwhile, management accounting holds the highest salary ceiling due to its role closely linked to the business strategy of the enterprise.
In any field, candidates with international certificates (ACCA, CMA) combined with proficient software use always have a great advantage to negotiate the desired salary level.
How long does it take to learn accounting software, where to learn it for recognition by businesses?
In order not to stop at basic operations but to be able to handle everything from documents, financial statements to management consulting, learners need to be systematically trained in both professional skills and technology.
Grasping this trend, universities are promoting the integration of software practice into the official curriculum. Typically at Van Lang University, the Accounting program is built in the direction of combining foundational knowledge, professional practice and digital transformation in accounting.
In addition to core modules, students are equipped with Accounting Information Systems, ERP - AMIS, Data Analysis, Fintech, AI, Blockchain along with IFRS and ACCA standards. Focusing on internships, simulation practice and business internships helps VLU students improve their abilities, ready to immediately meet the requirements of the labor market.
As more and more businesses are digitally transforming financial - accounting operations, the requirement to "know the software" is likely to no longer be an advantage but becomes a minimum condition to be considered for applications, similar to Excel skills a decade ago. For those who are studying or preparing to choose Accounting, the question is no longer "do I need to learn software?", but "when to start studying so as not to waste time retraining after graduation".
