Beating accountancy burnout

Across the board, accounting firms are facing high turnovers of staff, while the talent pool of young accounting professionals is shrinking. Add economic uncertainty and the potentially existential threat of AI, and it's little surprise that 79% of accountants say poor mental health is a problem in their profession.  

These added stress triggers compound the typical pressures of an accounting career. These include: 

• Heavy workloads. Particularly within "busy season" - i.e. tax season - accounting professionals face a high volume of work. Market volatility also means more businesses are seeking financial advice. 
• Tight deadlines. From quick turnaround times for client requests to balancing reporting cycles, regulatory compliance and busy seasons, tight deadlines are a constant feature in accounting jobs. 
• Complexity of work. Accounting requires detailed analysis, verification of financial information and compliance across various accounting standards, while often processing large volumes of data and complex transactions. 
• High-pressure environments. Working with high financial stakes demands high quality work, which is time-consuming and requires focus, which factored into a heavy workload, tight deadlines and complexity of tasks increases pressure. 
• High client expectations. Clients expect a high degree of accuracy and timeliness in financial reporting and advice. Some clients impose unrealistic deadlines, miscommunicate needs and expectations, and change requests, causing increased stress. 
• Changing legislation. Accountants must be across any changes to tax laws and accounting standards, maintaining compliance with new laws and regulations, which requires additional time and precision. 
• Long hours. In a bid to complete work to a high standard and meet deadlines, accountants often work long hours, which negatively impacts work-life balance and impedes ability to manage stress. 70+ hour weeks are common, particularly in tax season. 

In addition to the long-standing demanding work culture of accountancy, the recent shift to remote work has also negatively impacted many accountants' mental health. Isolation and loneliness, the blurred boundaries between personal life and the work environment, communication challenges and reduced supervision or support compounds work-related stress and makes it harder to strike a healthy work-life balance.

Burnout rates in the accounting profession are particularly high, especially around busy season. Chronic stress is common in accountancy: One US survey found that 99% of accountants suffer from chronic workplace stress. In the UK, meanwhile, our survey found that accountants were over 36% more likely to report feeling stressed or burnt out than employees in other professions.

Our recent report found that 43% of accountants have constantly or often experienced symptoms of burnout in the past year. This figure rises to 74% when including accountants who ‘sometimes’ experienced symptoms of burnout in the past year. 

We also found that 38% of accountants aged under 30 say they experience burnout often, which would indicate burnout rate in accountants is higher amongst this age group.  

Burnout is aggravated when subjects do not access help. Unfortunately, our survey also revealed that this is a common issue amongst accounting professionals. Almost half of accountants (48%) worried about being treated differently if they admitted to suffering from stress. Furthermore, the same survey 42% feared that admitting to extreme stress or burnout would impact on their career progression - a 55% higher rate than employees in other industries. 

The most common signs of burnout in accountancy are: 

• Chronic fatigue. Accountants with burnout may experience severe tiredness over an extended period, despite getting enough sleep. Long hours and work worries - particularly during busy season - can contribute to fatigue, which may become chronic if not managed effectively. 
• Decreased performance. Prolonged accounting stress can cause a noticeable decline in productivity. The anxiety of demanding work combined with exhaustion can cause apathy and clog up workflow, causing missed deadlines or lower quality work. 
• Increased irritability tiredness and higher generalised stress levels cause frustration and irritability, presenting itself in increased conflicts with colleagues or clients, or as a generally negative attitude to work. 
• Loss of motivation. Accountants may find themselves feeling disengaged from their work or losing enthusiasm for tasks that previously energised them. They may struggle to find the motivation to complete routine reconciliations or reports, leading to procrastination or sub-standard work. 
• Cognitive difficulties. Burnout can manifest as difficulty concentrating or remembering important details. This can make analysing financial statements or identifying discrepancies a challenge. 
• Emotional exhaustion. Burnout can also present as emotional fatigue. It may be difficult to feel anything other than drained or low. This in turn makes it harder to engage with colleagues and clients, impacting relationships and leading to further stress. 
• Physical symptoms of burnout also include headaches, sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal issues. Long hours spent in the office without physical activity can exacerbate this, causing poor physical health. 

Read more on burnout and what it looks like. 

Unfortunately, accountants are also at risk of the more extreme symptoms of burnout. In severe cases of burnout, sufferers may experience pronounced anxiety or depression, which can severely impact their personal and professional lives. Extreme burnout can lead to a breakdown in relationships and a crisis in self-esteem. It can even lead to reckless behaviour and suicidal thoughts. 

Recognising these symptoms and addressing burnout is crucial, to prevent or mitigate its progression. By seeking help and implementing coping strategies, accountants can restore well-being and establish a fulfilling career.