28 September 2006 
 
A third of young accountants work more than 50 hours per week a survey by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia reveals. The survey also found that Queenslanders were the most hard working, with employees working more weekends or evenings than any other state. 
 
The National survey* of 600 accountants predominantly in the 21-30 age range found that despite the hours worked, only 20 per cent of those surveyed believe to have a poor work life balance.  
 
“The skills shortage and greater regulation have placed accountants under increased pressure to work longer hours. For the last few years the industry has seen accounting firms introduce programs to help employees achieve a better work life balance and change the culture of long hours. But change can take time and still the most common reason cited for poor work life balance was ‘it is expected you work long hours,” said Sheena Frenkel General Manager for the Chartered Accountants Program and Admissions, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. 
 
Accountants in the Big Four, mid tier Public Practices and in commerce were found to work more hours per week than their small public practice counterparts. In an average week, men worked only slightly more hours than women with 46 hours compared to 44. 
 
Ernst & Young, one of the Big Four Professional Services firms uses its flexible approach to work life balance as an incentive to attract new employees.  
 
“A flexible approach to how, when and where our people work helps to ensure they’re happy, high-performing and successful at work. Ernst & Young provides the opportunity to take advantage of options that include flexible working hours, purchasing additional leave, working from home and study leave,” said Ernst & Young’s Director People & Culture, Jack Crumlin.  
More than half of respondents said they worked a weekend day or into the evening in the previous month. Of those that worked a weekend or evening, almost a quarter were Queenslanders closely followed by West Australia and Victoria employees at 22 and 21 per cent respectively.  
 
Respondents in South Australia and New South Wales were found to work significantly fewer weekends or evenings with only 16 per cent for each state working outside normal hours. 
 
And of those that worked a weekend in the last month, 30 per cent worked two days and 28 per cent worked four or more days. 
 
* The survey was compiled by research group The Leading Edge and polled accountants presently studying the Chartered Accountants Program