Brisbane Public Practice Industry Insights: Q2 2026
Change in Brisbane’s public practice market is not subtle in Q2 2026 — it is visible across firms, roles, and sectors. The data shows movement occurring simultaneously at multiple levels, with expansion in some areas and contraction in others, all within a relatively compact market.
Rather than following a single trajectory, Brisbane’s figures point to a market in motion. Sharp percentage shifts at the firm level, pronounced changes across experience bands, and steady job movement combine to create a landscape that is actively adjusting. The numbers themselves reflect rebalancing within firms and across roles, rather than static or settled conditions.
This report examines every data point presented in the Brisbane Public Practice Industry Insights for Q2 2026. All analysis is based solely on the information shown in the image, with interpretations drawn directly from the data provided.
Market Demand and Workforce Stability
Greater Brisbane currently employs 2,534 public accountants. Over the past 12 months, 308 public accountants changed jobs, indicating a consistently active employment market.
The median tenure of 1.4 years reflects relatively short periods spent in roles before movement occurs. Alongside a very high level of hiring demand, this suggests an environment where workforce mobility remains a defining feature.
The location data shows a +1% change in the number of public accountants in Brisbane compared to the previous 12 months, indicating modest net growth in overall headcount.
Skilled Labour Movement: Firm-Level Changes
The data highlights notable firm-level movement within Brisbane over the last year.
Firms Recording Net Gains
- Exant Advisory: +15 accountants (+114%)
- MGI South Queensland: +22 accountants (+38%)
These figures represent significant increases, particularly in percentage terms for Exant Advisory, pointing to rapid expansion within a short timeframe.
Firms Recording Net Losses
- Forvis Mazars: –8 accountants (–58%)
- Inspire: –7 accountants (–22%)
The scale of these declines demonstrates how quickly headcount can reduce at the firm level, especially where smaller team sizes amplify percentage change.
Largest Public Accounting Employers in Brisbane
All major employers shown in the data recorded growth over the past 12 months:
- BDO in Australia: 67 accountants (+14%)
- Pitcher Partners: 54 accountants (+23%)
- Hall Chadwick QLD: 39 accountants (+26%)
- Bentleys Queensland: 36 accountants (+9%)
This consistent growth indicates ongoing expansion across several of Brisbane’s largest public practice employers during the period measured.
Flow of Talent Between Sectors
The sector movement chart shows uneven movement across different segments:
- Financial Services: net outflow in one segment and net inflow in another
- Strategic Management: net outflow
- Retail: net inflow
This data highlights varied movement across sectors, with some areas attracting public accounting talent while others experience net losses over the past 12 months.
Talent Pool Experience: Changes Across Levels
The experience-level breakdown shows meaningful shifts across Brisbane’s talent pool.
Declines
- Accountants: 1,653 (–1%)
- Junior Accountants: 50 (–9%)
Growth
- Senior Accountants: 388 (+4%)
- Assistant Accountants: 136 (+7%)
- Graduate Accountants: 108 (+6%)
- Intermediate Accountants: 73 (+46%)
The most pronounced increase appears at the Intermediate Accountant level, showing a substantial rise over the past 12 months. Growth is also evident across senior, assistant, and graduate roles, while junior numbers have declined.
Geographic Data (Brisbane)
The location data confirms 2,534 public accountants currently based in Brisbane, reflecting a +1% change from the previous 12 months. This indicates a modest increase in the size of the Brisbane public practice workforce over the period measured.
Viewed as a whole, the Q2 2026 data captures a Brisbane public practice market that is actively reshaping itself. Workforce movement remains consistent, hiring demand is very high, and firm-level changes are occurring with noticeable speed.
What stands out is not a single dominant trend, but the coexistence of expansion and contraction across different parts of the market. Some firms are growing rapidly, others are pulling back, and the experience mix is adjusting at multiple levels simultaneously. These dynamics reflect a market that continues to evolve rather than stabilise.
For those operating within Brisbane’s public practice environment, the data provides a clear snapshot of current conditions. Understanding where movement is occurring — and where it is not — offers valuable context for navigating the remainder of 2026 as the market continues to adjust.
