The emotional labour of being an accountant and 5 ways to combat it

A rarely touched upon topic is the mental load an accounting professional holds when juggling a high-stress, high-pressure career. Managing expectations, teams, client relationships, proactive upskilling, and providing precise data can take its toll. Behind the deadlines, tax spreadsheets, and advisory work, lies a quiet force of tension that can bleed into your everyday life. It’s important to learn how to combat balancing the demands of the job with a healthy work/life balance.

Jump to:

1. Set clear boundaries
2. Become aware of your emotional state
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
4. Create a professional support ecosystem
5. Prioritise your work/life balance

Whether you’re switching systems to accommodate new government regulations, reporting sensitive financial information, maintaining security of your client’s data, or in the process of onboarding new recruits - responsibilities can stack up quickly. The key is to prioritise emotional wellbeing just as much as you would your own career goals. Without taking active steps to combat the emotional load, burnout could become the end result. Here are five ways to combat the mental labour of being an accountant and make the move to accommodate a better work/life balance.

1. Set clear boundaries

The expectation that an accountant needs to provide precise information at a moment’s notice can be one that is difficult to manage. There needs to be clear boundaries set in place so your clients are fully aware of what you are offering and when you are available. Some ways you can do this are:

• Define your working hours upfront with your clients. If there’s an urgent matter that occurs outside of these hours, define for yourself what is and is not urgent and hold strong (even though this can sometimes be a challenge within yourself!)
• Don’t be afraid to say no. If you don’t have the capacity to take on a new task, or you might not be well-versed in a specific request, you can decline it. Rely on outside sources to help out and become an avid referrer
• Stay true to your pricing. If you have a client who is looking to tack on services that are outside of their retainer, for example, be clear about additional pricing for time and services worked and share these upfront before any additional work commences.

2. Become aware of your and your team’s emotional state

Awareness around yours or your accounting firm team’s stress-levels is one of the most integral ways to combat emotional labour. If you notice burnout rising, it’s not going to  dissipate organically. Being able to recognise, understand, and respond to rising tension in the moment means you will be able to address those issues effectively and quickly. 

Reduce the impact stress can have on your team and your clients. When operating from a place of heightened emotional tension, there are opportunities for more frequent error instances, workload overwhelm, client anxiety, and miscommunications. Take moments throughout your day to step away from your computer, check-in with other staff members, take lunch breaks, and organise activities that fulfill you outside of the workplace.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Asking for help can be an arduous task for most professionals. Thinking you can do it all is an often toxic trait disguised as dynamic. Creating a symbiotic relationship with your team is the first way you can combat this mindset. Offer help when you have space within your schedule, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when feeling overwhelmed. Learn to delegate efficiently and be prepared to pass on your training. This can take more time up front, but will pay off in the long run.

The cognitive load can creep up upon anyone. Many Australian firms across the country are looking to outsourcing companies who are able to help ease the stress stack, and leave more time for accountants. These companies are well-versed in the industry and ready to learn the tailored ways you operate so you have more time for career progression, or fostering a healthier work/life balance. Asking for help doesn’t have to just be within your direct, local sphere. There are options that can provide assistance from afar too.

4. Create a professional support ecosystem

When combatting the emotional labour of being an accountant, it’s easy to feel isolated when peak season hits. The key is to create a professional support ecosystem you can rely on to get you through tough times. This doesn’t just extend to your colleagues either, this can look like:

• A trusted person to talk to about stress, client interactions, or general day-to-day goings on
• Someone who can double-check sensitive decisions to ensure your output is accurate
• A person who understands the industry and is able to listen without explanation
• Someone who is able to notice when you are going into overthinking mode and is able to draw you back out
• A perspective person. An individual who offers both sides of the coin to allow you better insight and processing points.

5. Prioritise your work/life balance

They don’t call it a balance for nothing! Sometimes it can seem all-consuming to juggle work and your everyday life, especially when the busy season hits. However, this needs to be a high priority on your list so you can not only perform better at work, but maintain your mental well-being too. Here are our top tips:

• Separate busy season mode and normal mode. It’s about knowing when to focus in on peak period, how to recover, and how to sustain your emotional load. Work hard, rest harder
• Plan out the next day at the end of your current one. Write down three priority tasks you want to get done before end of day  tomorrow, schedule in 15mins after each meeting to allow time to check emails and action anything urgent from that meeting while it’s fresh… prioritise clients you want to get back to the next day. Organise your future in the present
• Take breaks like tasks. Make sure you build breaks into your everyday workload and be strict about taking a moment to reset and recharge
• Don’t neglect yourself. Taking time for yourself and doing the things you love builds a better mental-state for the work ahead. Join team sports, engage in creative  tasks like art or puzzles, and don’t miss your weekly trivia night at your local.