Ajibola Jinadu, a renowned Nigerian accountant and seasoned financial officer, has offered bold advice to accounting professionals across the country, especially those working in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). His message is clear: stop switching jobs for marginal salary increases and instead build the competence and confidence that truly elevate your value.
In a reflective and experience-driven statement shared recently, Jinadu addressed a common frustration among accountants, “low pay”, and the reactive tendency to seek new roles that only provide meagre increments.
“Across many SMEs, accountants say they’re underpaid. But when they switch jobs, they still manage to increase their pay by as little as 5%. This doesn’t match inflation. It also doesn’t match their years of work or level of training,” he noted.
Jinadu emphasised that the decision to move from one job to another for small increments often stems from two interconnected issues: lack of confidence and competence.
“Without confidence,” he said, “people struggle to ask for what they’re worth, explain their value clearly, or walk away from poor offers. But most people don’t ask for more because deep down, they’re not sure they can deliver more.”
He further explained that true competence isn’t just about knowing debits and credits, but about demonstrating how accounting work drives business decisions and contributes to growth.
“It’s about showing how your work drives results, talking business, not just numbers, and proving you help others make better decisions. If you can’t show this, your perception stays limited.”
To bridge the gap between being underpaid and becoming highly valued, Jinadu, who is on a mission to raise one million Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in Africa, offered a six-step strategy for accountants:
- Get Feedback – Actively seek out constructive criticism and act on it.
- Practice Negotiating – Rehearse job offer discussions with trusted peers.
- Join Strong Circles – Surround yourself with those who offer real, actionable input.
- Do a Skills Check – Know where you’re strong and where you need improvement.
- Keep Learning – Focus on business-relevant skills, not just professional exams.
- Reframe Your Role – See yourself as a business partner, not just a bookkeeper.
According to him, many accountants who complain about stagnation in their earnings may be focusing too much on changing environments rather than changing themselves.
“If pay barely moves after job changes, the reason may not be the job. It may be the confidence and/or competence you don’t have,” he warned. “Competence builds confidence. Stop settling for 5%. Start building the version of yourself that commands 50%.”
Ajibola Jinadu’s insight is resonating across professional circles, sparking conversations about career growth, self-worth, and the need for accountants to elevate their strategic value within organizations.
For people in the accounting profession navigating an increasingly competitive landscape, Jinadu’s message is both a wake-up call and a roadmap for transformation.
