Work-life balance for accountants: 7 strategies to achieve well-being and success

Accounting is well known for its grueling hours. Whether it’s tax season or the fiscal year-end, accountants regularly deal with periods of intense demand and high-pressure deadlines. All of this can make it difficult to strike a healthy work-life balance. 

To achieve success over the long term, however, a healthy work-life balance isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. Anything else is unsustainable, leading to low performance, burnout, and poor mental health. 

So how can accountants strike a balance between a successful career and personal well-being? In this article, we’ll find out.

We wrote this piece with the help of experienced CPA and firm owner Nick Boscia. Having seen the consequences of overwork first-hand, he realized that the key to achieving long-term success and fulfillment was to prioritize his well-being. Since founding Boscia & Boscia PC, Nick has been able to grow his client base and protect his personal time. Read on to find out how. 

Why work-life balance is crucial for accountants

There are all sorts of reasons why accountants should seek a healthy work-life balance — not least because it’s essential to long-term success. Here, we’ll look at some of the key benefits that come when you strike the right balance between your work and personal life. 

Sustainable success and growth

Shockingly, virtually all accountants (99%) suffer from some level of burnout. While many will claim that it “comes with the territory”, working long hours isn’t sustainable over the long term.

For professional growth to be sustainable, you need to maintain a healthy separation between your professional and personal lives. As Nick Boscia and his team have discovered, this enables you to grow your career and advance your skills without the risk of burnout.

Professionally, the benefits have been clear — by adopting a balanced approach, our firm has grown sustainably without overwhelming ourselves.

Improved productivity

In Nick Boscia’s experience, “A balanced team is a more productive team.” Why? Because when accountants can take the time they need to recharge, they can return to their tasks with renewed focus and enthusiasm. This increased productivity and focus also translates to superior client service: 

Our clients appreciate that we provide consistent, high-quality service, and they notice the difference when we’re energized and not running on fumes and stressed out. Client relationships have improved because we’re able to communicate more effectively and deliver better results.

Better mental health

Long periods of stress and overwork can be detrimental to your mental well-being. Accounting is particularly prone to these issues. As Nick Boscia found out, prioritizing a healthier work-life balance leads to improved mental health and better relationships with loved ones: 

Focusing on a balanced life has brought me both personal fulfillment and professional growth. Personally, I’m healthier, less stressed, and more present with family and friends.

Greater job satisfaction

Job satisfaction is critical to long-term happiness and success. If you don’t enjoy what you do, you’ll either struggle to perform or eventually look for a way out. When you strike the right balance between work life and personal life, you appreciate your job more. For firm owners like Nick Boscia, ensuring work-life balance for staff results in happier, more settled teams:

Long-term, maintaining balance has allowed us to retain talented team members and build a more sustainable business model.

Common Challenges to Work-Life Balance for Accountants

In today’s fast-paced world, achieving a healthy work-life balance can be tricky for anyone. It’s particularly difficult for accountants, thanks to the unique demands of the profession. Here are some of the common challenges accountants face in finding the right balance. 

Peak times and busy season

Accountants are always busy, but when the dreaded tax season comes, demand can reach entirely new levels. These peak times not only bring heavier workloads but also tight deadlines. This has led to a reluctant acceptance among the accounting community, many of whom commit to working much longer hours than normal. 

To give you an idea of how crazy things can get, take a look at this thread from the r/Accounting subreddit. As you can see, accountants are often expected to put in a minimum of 50 hours per week or more. 

The pressure to always be available

According to Nick Boscia, many accountants struggle with setting boundaries because clients expect immediate responses and high availability. These demands can be especially draining during peak times, when clients seek frequent updates. 

Many accountants feel they need to be available at all times to serve their clients. This is particularly true for firm owners looking to grow their client base, who fear losing clients to competitors. Being “on call” at all times blurs the line between work and free time. It means accountants are never able to fully switch off, which can quickly lead to burnout.

Competition for career growth

The accounting industry is highly competitive. Many professionals feel pressured to go above and beyond in an attempt to differentiate themselves from the competition. This drive to stand out often results in accountants taking on extra projects, working longer hours, and jumping on urgent tasks during the weekend. 

While this can pay off with increased pay, promotions, or more clients, it can be highly detrimental to your well-being in the long term.

Inefficient processes 

Efficiency is crucial in accounting. Yet many accountants still struggle with inefficient workflows and outdated technology. According to Nick Boscia, inefficient processes compound the challenges accountants face around heavy workloads and demanding clients:

Another common challenge is not having efficient systems in place, leading to constant manual work and disorganization. The stress of managing deadlines, client expectations, and technical work can be overwhelming.

7 strategies for Achieving Work-Life Balance

So how exactly do you go about achieving a better work-life balance in the accounting industry? In this section, we’ll guide you through seven practical strategies. While none of these are quick fixes, implementing them will set you and your team on the path to balance.

1. Set boundaries 

The first step to a better work-life balance is to set boundaries — and consistently stick to them. As Nick Boscia explains, “Setting boundaries starts with recognizing the importance of your own time.” 

So how does setting boundaries work in practice? With modern technology, we’re contactable virtually anywhere and at any time. For this reason, Nick recommends keeping personal contact details separate from professional ones and being clear about when work starts and ends:

I no longer give my personal cell phone out to clients, and I only check emails and take appointments during work hours. I also designate specific times for work and personal activities and try to stick to them religiously.

This is a key point. If your clients or employer have the means to contact you outside of work hours, they inevitably will. By setting clear boundaries, they’ll understand when you are available and when you aren’t. From the Reddit thread below, it’s clear that more and more accountants are taking this advice:

Of course, it’s easier to set clear boundaries if you’re your own boss. If you’re an employee, it can be more difficult. Your workplace may impose expectations on you that are hard to avoid — if you want to keep your job. With that in mind, here are several things you can do to help avoid situations where your boundaries aren’t respected: 

• Research workplace culture on sites such as Glassdoor before applying for a position
• Outline your expectations and non-negotiables during the interview stage
• Choose jobs that offer flexibility working arrangements that suit your needs
• Work for firms that embrace time-saving tech, such as automation and AI
• Speak up if you feel that work is encroaching on your personal time too much 

2. Learn to say “no”

If you’re a firm owner, it can be tempting to say “yes” to any and every job, regardless of your current workload or preferences. It may feel strange at first, but Nick Boscia says it’s OK — and sometimes even necessary — to turn work down that doesn’t suit you:

For me, one of the first steps was getting comfortable saying “no” to non-essential tasks or clients that drained too much time and energy.

In truth, no two client jobs are the same. Some are relatively simple and quick, others are highly complex. To understand which jobs to say “no” to, consider your current workload, as well as your preferences and headspace. There will be times when more complex, time-intensive tasks are just what you need, and others when it’s best to go for the “low-hanging fruit” of simpler tasks.

It’s also a good idea to prioritize tasks that contribute meaningfully to your goals and career growth. This will help you stay motivated and focused. 

3. Block off personal time 

In addition to scheduling meetings and other work-related activities, use your calendar to block off personal time as well. This could be an hour each morning to do some exercise or time spent with family. Whatever it is, blocking off time in your calendar will help you stick to your plans. It will also help teammates and clients respect your boundaries. 

By using a scheduling app, you can guarantee that any time your clients or staff schedule with you will be outside of the time you’ve dedicated to yourself. 

If you’re a firm owner, encourage your staff to do the same. By assigning certain hours as “non-negotiable personal time,” you enable everyone to recharge and step away from work when needed, without feeling guilty about it. 

4. Embrace automation and AI

Achieving the right work-life balance doesn’t have to come at the expense of productivity. With the right tech, it’s possible to get more done with less manual effort. Firms that use TaxDome’s workflow automation, for example, save up to 40 hours per employee per month. 

This powerful feature enables accounting teams to put entire workflows on autopilot, such as client onboarding, tax preparation, or payroll. In the example workflow below, all client communication, deposit collection, and document gathering happens automatically. All the accountant has to do is prepare the actual return. 

For Nick Boscia, embracing technology has been one of the main factors in helping him grow a successful accounting practice while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It has enabled him to streamline processes that once took hours. As a result, his firm can manage client work much more efficiently. 

Today, there are countless software tools and apps you can use to automate and enhance your accounting workflows — from practice management software like TaxDome to artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT. 

Interested in learning more about AI and its impact on the accounting industry? Check out our article: AI in accounting 2024: key trends, technologies, and how to get started.

5. Work smarter, not harder

Nick Boscia’s mantra of “work smarter, not harder,” is essential to achieving work-life balance. This goes against the traditional perception that the only way to get ahead in accounting is to work long, grueling hours. 

It’s a common misconception that balance equals less growth, but my experience has been the opposite. When you take care of yourself and manage your time well, you’re more productive and focused, which actually accelerates growth.

So what does working smarter mean in practice? Well, it all comes back to efficiency. If your day-to-day work involves handling repetitive manual tasks, you’re probably working very hard, but you’re certainly not working smart. Here are some tips for improving efficiency and working smarter: 

• Analyze tasks and workflows to see where efficiency can be improved
• Highlight any repetitive manual tasks that are getting in the way of your actual work
• Look for tools that can help automate, streamline, and enhance these tasks and workflows
• Prioritize complex tasks for times of the day when you are naturally more focused
• Take regular screen breaks to recharge and refocus

6. Establish a positive workplace environment

Staff burnout is often a leadership problem. If you’re a firm owner, try to establish a positive workplace culture that focuses on results and outcomes over hours worked. Hold regular check-ins with your staff to understand their workloads or concerns. This is also a great opportunity to hear how workflow efficiency could be further improved. 

Ultimately, it’s about creating a work environment that is conducive to long-term success and well-being. As Nick Boscia points out, you can’t have the former without the latter:

A firm’s long-term success depends on the well-being of its people. When you and your team aren’t burnt out, the quality of work improves, and clients notice.

7. Delegate and outsource when possible

If you’re a firm owner, it can be tempting to try and handle everything yourself. After all, you’ve built the business from scratch — who better to manage all of its affairs? But running a business can be overwhelming. In addition to the actual accounting work, there are additional skills to master when it comes to marketing and running your business. 

The key to achieving a healthier work-life balance is understanding when you need some additional support. This could mean hiring a full-time teammate or outsourcing excess work during tax season. Outside of accounting, it could mean tapping into the freelance market for support with website building, SEO, and content creation, for example.

While delegating and outsourcing work comes at a financial cost, it ultimately enables you to build a smarter business and grow your client base — without working all hours of the day. 

Nick Boscia’s work-life balance journey

Nick Boscia’s journey is a powerful reminder that accounting success doesn’t have to come at the expense of personal well-being. As a child, Nick saw the impact that working seven days a week had on his father, and how it impacted his relationships and personal life. He soon realized that to achieve long-term success and happiness in his life, he needed to find a healthier balance.

For Nick, the turning point was during a period of rapid growth at his firm, Boscia & Boscia PC. He was working long hours to keep up with the demand. While the business was thriving, Nick’s health and relationships were beginning to suffer. “I knew I had to shift gears,” Nick explains: 

I started focusing on optimizing processes, adopting technology, and delegating effectively. Once I embraced the idea that I could have both — a successful career and a fulfilling personal life — everything changed.

By adopting automation tools, setting boundaries, and streamlining workflows, Nick was able to improve his and his team’s work-life balance. But that’s not all — his firm also saw great success. By modernizing his firm and adopting better technology, Nick was able to double his firm’s client base without doubling the workload. “A balanced approach doesn’t mean sacrificing ambition,” he points out. “It means finding sustainable ways to achieve growth without compromising personal happiness and health.” 

This journey led Nick to create TheBalancedCPA, a brand dedicated to guiding accounting practices and individuals in achieving a healthy balance between professional success and personal well-being. TheBalancedCPA focuses on modernizing workflows, integrating technology, and fostering sustainable growth without burnout. Nick offers services such as educational speaking, business and personal consulting, and strategic planning, all aimed at helping clients thrive in both their careers and personal lives.

Nick’s success is a testament to the effectiveness of the strategies we’ve outlined in this guide. His story serves as proof that balance is achievable with the right mindset, tools, and approach.

How technology can support work-life balance

We’ve already touched on this throughout the article, but technology is the key to building more efficient processes. In turn, efficiency is the key to a better work-life balance. But what technology do we mean exactly? Here’s what Nick has to say on the matter:

Using cloud-based accounting software like Quickbooks Online, secure document management tools like Smartvault, and practice management tools has drastically cut down the need for manual, repetitive tasks. This way, we can focus on high-impact work without constantly being bogged down by admin tasks.

Leveraging technology in this way not only helps you get more done faster. It also improves job satisfaction. Instead of spending your days battling with never-ending administrative tasks, you can focus on what matters most — providing outstanding service and growing your business. 

Why practice management software is a game-changer

In recent years, practice management software has emerged as a must-have for forward-thinking accounting firms. Alongside accounting software, it now forms the basis of a modern accounting tech stack. 

Practice management software combines all the tools you need to run a highly efficient and profitable accounting firm. This includes tools for managing teams, projects, clients, and documents. Together, these capabilities can help you promote a healthy work-life balance in the following ways: 

• Automating routine tasks — from client communication to billing
• Improving visibility into deadlines and workloads
• Consolidating communication in one place
• Tracking and monitoring time spent on different tasks

No two practice management platforms are the same, however. While most offer basic features such as task and document management, many lack more advanced features and capabilities. To achieve a healthy work-life balance and grow your firm, we recommend choosing a comprehensive platform like TaxDome. 

With TaxDome, you can automate entire accounting workflows from start to finish. Each workflow is divided into stages, and each stage contains different automations. Jobs move seamlessly through these stages as different actions are completed, triggering new automations along the way.  Here’s what it looks like: 

As a result, manual processes are virtually eliminated. When you onboard a new client or prepare someone’s tax return, all of the communication, document gathering, task management, e-signing requests, and billing happen without you lifting a finger. 

This enables you to serve more clients while reclaiming your precious time. Pharma Tax, for example, was able to triple its revenue using TaxDome, while reducing the time spent on bookkeeping tasks by up to 73%. You can read the full Pharma Tax story here.

Workflow automation is just one of TaxDome’s features. For a complete look at what TaxDome offers, check out this article and explainer video: Accounting practice management software in action.

FAQs

How many hours do accountants typically work?

Like most professionals, accountants generally work 40-hour weeks. During peak times like tax season or year-end close, however, it’s not uncommon for accountants to work considerably more. Some accountants report working 60 hours a week or more during busy times. 

What’s the busiest time of year for accountants, and how can they prepare?

The busiest time for accountants is typically tax season, which extends from January through April in the US. Year-end close is another busy time with tight deadlines. To help you reduce the stress associated with tax season, check out our guide: Busy season for accountants: what it is, when it takes place, and tips for success.

What are some practical tips for achieving work-life balance in accounting?

There are various strategies you can implement to achieve a better work-life balance. These include: 

• Setting clear boundaries
• Automating routine tasks
• Delegating and outsourcing tasks
• Learning to say “no” to extra work
• Blocking personal time on your calendar

What’s the best way to set boundaries with clients?

Establishing boundaries is all about clear communication. You need to be upfront about your working hours, preferred contact methods, and typical response times early on. Once you’ve set boundaries, you need to stick to them rigidly. If not, you’ll find the line between your work and personal life soon becomes blurred.

How can accounting firms support employees’ work-life balance?

Firms can support balance by promoting a workplace culture that prioritizes health, well-being, and flexibility. Providing access to tools that streamline work, such as practice management software, is another effective way to ensure a balanced approach.

Communication is also crucial. Make sure you schedule regular check-ins to understand employees’ workloads and moods. Seek feedback on how processes could be improved. 

Can technology help accountants improve their work-life balance?

Absolutely! Technology is crucial to achieving both work-life balance and accounting success. Practice management software, cloud-based accounting platforms, and AI automation tools can all help reduce manual tasks. This enables accountants to achieve more with less. 

To sum up

Achieving work-life balance is essential for long-term success and personal fulfillment. As Nick Boscia’s journey shows, balance is not only possible but also crucial to sustainable growth and happiness. 

By implementing the strategies we’ve discussed in this guide, you can move closer to a healthier work-life balance that doesn’t come at the expense of success. But remember — balance doesn’t happen overnight. By taking consistent steps, you’ll be on the right path for a more manageable workload and a rewarding career.

One of the most important steps you can take is to embrace technology. This is where TaxDome can help. With powerful features for automating workflows, improving team collaboration, and supporting seamless client communication, TaxDome helps you achieve more with less. 

To see how TaxDome can help you reclaim your time and find a healthier work-life balance, request a demo today.