Why Some Accountants Do Not Like Their Jobs and How to Help

Traditional accounting career paths do not fit today’s accountants. This is why many accountants do not like their jobs.

Most accountants do not want to remain with the same company throughout their careers. Instead, they want to change employers to diversify their skill sets.

The lack of opportunities for advancement causes many accountants to be dissatisfied with their jobs. These accountants value professional development and promotions.

Employers tend to focus solely on having accountants complete their work at the office. However, today’s accountants typically desire flexibility, meaning, and purpose in their roles.

Discover why many accountants dislike their jobs and what managers can do to help.

Long Work Days

Many accountants are expected to work at least 60 hours each week. This can be longer during tax season. As a result, these accountants have limited time to fulfill personal responsibilities and interests.

Limited Professional Development

Many accountants work for companies with prestigious reputations. However, these accountants often lack opportunities to reach their full potential with the organization.

Accountants who work for large firms tend to specialize in audit, tax, materials and acquisitions, or another narrow field. As a result, these accountants do not learn how the business operates as a whole.

The lack of variety in accounting responsibilities can be frustrating. Accountants who are unable to develop their skills tend to be unfulfilled in their jobs.

Difficulty Changing Practices

Choosing between public and private practice impacts an accountant’s career. Each type of practice requires different personalities and skill sets. As a result, switching to the other practice after establishing a career can be difficult.

Accountants who change from private to public practice or vice versa may need to start from the bottom and work their way up. This can cause significant professional setbacks after years of career establishment.

Tips to Increase Job Satisfaction

Accountants tend to prioritize work-life balance. This means many accountants prefer jobs with remote or hybrid work and a flexible schedule over higher-paying jobs that require onsite work during set hours. Offering these perks can increase accountants’ job satisfaction.

Most accountants want variety in their jobs. Consider letting them cross-train to take on additional duties and responsibilities. These accountants can cover when their colleagues are off work.

Accountants typically desire meaningful work. Providing challenging tasks and projects that require creativity and problem-solving promotes engagement and productivity.

Want Help Sourcing Accountants?

Many accountants work long hours and have limited opportunities for professional development. This lack of skill development makes it difficult to switch between public or private practice after career establishment. Managers can alleviate these issues by allowing flexibility for work-life balance and diversifying job duties and responsibilities.

If you are having difficulty sourcing qualified accountants, Casey Accounting & Finance Resources can help. Reach out today.

Ways to Push Employees Outside Their Comfort Zone and Set Them Up for Success

Everyone needs to step out of their comfort zone to be successful. The more education, skills, and experience we gain, the more value we have to give employers. As an accounting manager, this is one reason why you should encourage your team members to regularly take on new challenges. The more progress they make, the more your company benefits.

Follow these guidelines to encourage your accounting staff to continuously expand their comfort zone and reach their full potential.

Get to Know Your Team

Have ongoing conversations to learn all you can about your employees on a personal level. Find out their work styles, communication preferences, professional goals, strengths, and interests. Use this information to determine which tasks to delegate to each team member, who should lead a project, and specific ways to help each employee earn a promotion. Showing commitment to your team’s professional growth helps them advance in their careers.

Provide Stretch Assignments

Give your team stretch assignments and other challenges that promote growth. Provide guidance and advice as they work to solve problems and overcome obstacles. Having space and responsibility to work independently and collaboratively develops independence and self-reliance. These skills are important for career development.

Offer Support

Demonstrate confidence in your team’s ability to independently handle their work. Your staff members need to know they can accomplish their tasks using their knowledge and skills with little oversight. This promotes the belief that they can build on their strengths and abilities to get the desired results. Being available to provide support when needed increases team trust and cohesion.

Provide Feedback

Give feedback in real-time to enhance your employees’ performance. Share what they are doing well, what can be improved, and specific ways to do so. Understanding what, how, and why change is needed encourages your team to continue to do better.

Recognize Achievements

Point out when your employees attain success on their way to reaching individual or team goals. Because reaching each milestone is important, privately and publicly acknowledge what the team member accomplished and how their results benefitted the organization. Be sure to provide bonuses, raises, and promotions when appropriate. The more you praise and reward your team, the more likely they are to continue to add value to the company.

Hire Top Performers

Encouraging your accounting team to continuously move beyond their comfort zone helps set them up for success. Getting to personally know your employees, providing stretch assignments, and offering support show you trust them to be self-reliant in solving problems and overcoming obstacles. Giving feedback and recognizing accomplishments encourages your team to continue to improve their performance.

When the time comes to add top finance professionals to your team, get in touch with Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. Contact us for more information today.

How the Right Employees Impact the Growth of Your Business

Having the right accounting and finance professionals on your team promotes company growth. Along with finding ways to increase efficiencies and decrease costs, your employees contribute to the organization in other ways. By carrying out your company mission and remaining engaged in their work, they create a positive environment to work in. Because your team members prioritize professional growth, they strive to attain company goals that move the business forward.

Discover five ways having the right employees on your team benefits your company.

Company Mission

With the right employees on your team, your company mission is carried out. Because your team members help run your organization, they act according to its guidelines for conducting business. As the lifeblood for your company, your employees include company vision and values in their interactions. Behavior in line with your culture further enhances your workplace. Happy employees remain engaged and productive, increasing your bottom line.

Employee Engagement

When the right employees are on your team, they remain engaged in their work. Because your team members enjoy what they do, they continue to take on new challenges and excel. As their enthusiasm and confidence grow, collaboration, productivity, and job satisfaction increase. This improves employee retention.

Work Environment

When you have the right employees, they create a positive work environment. Because your team members effectively complete their work, morale increases. Since your employees stay motivated and engaged throughout the day, you provide recognition and rewards to promote their performance level. The energy of your team attracts other talented people who want to work for you.

Employee Growth

Having the right employees on your team means they value ongoing professional growth. Your team members enjoy setting new goals, reaching milestones, and celebrating successes. They regularly engage in training and continuing education, hold themselves and others accountable, and learn from mistakes. Because your employee evaluations consistently show growth over time, you reward your team members with bonuses, raises, and promotions.

Goal Attainment

Working with the right employees helps you reach business goals. They continually find ways to increase efficiency and revenue while decreasing costs. Your team members also meet deadlines, reach milestones, and celebrate successes. This paves the way to achieve bigger goals long-term.

Source Top Accounting and Finance Professionals

Having the right employees on your team increases the success of your business. When your team members carry out your company mission and remain engaged in their work, they create a positive work environment. Because your employees prioritize professional growth, they are driven to achieve business goals. All of these factors attract top talent to your organization, further enhancing your bottom line.

Reach out to Casey Accounting & Finance Resources when you need to add professionals to your accounting and finance team. See why we have been awarded the Best of Staffing® Award for service excellence for the seventh year in a row, an honor that less than 1% of all staffing firms in the U.S. and Canada receive. Get more information today.