Tools to help you work hard - and get a life

Balancing your life with the demands of a growing career is never easy. As your personal situation and needs change over the years, balancing life and work can become even more challenging.  Employers in the accounting profession have become more aware of the work/life issues that face their professionals and many have developed innovative and creative arrangements that can help employees balance work with their particular life situation. In fact, some CPAs cite flexibility as a key reason that they chose the accounting profession in the first place.

If your firm doesn’t have the flexibility you are looking for, make sure you share your views before moving on.  Many employers will work with you to strike a balance that suits both your needs.

Here are some tools, resources and research that can educate you—and your employers--on work/life balance issues and help you to manage the demands of work while enjoying your life.

Research

A Decade of Changes in the Accounting Profession: Workforce Trends and Human Capital Practices
Findings from a survey of CPAs in public practice and industry as well as CPA firms on women, promotions, where CPAs want to go in their career, trends, work/life balance and more.

CPAs in Industry on Balance
A report that explores how to choose your first job, leaving public accounting for industry, career advice, work/life balance issues and why CPAs are satisfied—and dissatisfied--with industry.

Summit: Career and Life in the Balance
Read the results of this summit and trends on work/life balance.

Videos

Work/Life: Striking a Balance video program
From CPAs looking for a flexible work arrangement to those just starting out and firms looking for strategies and implementation ideas, this video has tips for you and your firm alike. This page also includes sample flexible work arrangement forms as well as articles and best practices.

Work/Life: Striving for Balance video program
Successful CPAs, men and women, share their secrets for maintaining a healthy personal life while balancing the demands of a hectic professional career. Their experiences offer insight into how to deal with these situations in your own career.

Related Articles

Opportunity and Balance: Is Your Organization Ready to Provide Both?
Outrageous Employee Benefits
Top Ten Reasons for Work/Life Flexibility

Additional Reading and Resources For You and Your Employer

Promoting Your Talent: A Guidebook for Women and Their Firms
Observations, reflections and recommendations on how women CPAs can promote their talents or their firms can promote the talented staff they have.