Male chartered accountants earn on average nearly 50 per cent more than their female counterparts, but recession is narrowing the gender gap, according to new research.

A study by Robert Half, the specialist recruitment firm, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales found the average basic salary for a male chartered accountant was £88,200 ($131,700) compared with an average of £60,500 for women. Bonuses further boosted men’s pay by 28 per cent, while women received only 19 per cent.