Accountants, particularly in public accounting and during tax season (January–April), often work 6-7 days a week, with hours sometimes exceeding 60-80 per week to meet deadlines. While this extreme schedule is usually limited to busy seasons and year-end reporting, many accountants have a more standard 9-5, Monday-Friday schedule during the rest of the year.
Accountants working in traditional corporate settings typically work around a fixed-hour schedule, within standard business hours, 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Such a schedule aligns with the standard 40-hour workweek that most businesses (clients) follow.
Be realistic about how much work you can take on
But remember — there are only so many hours in the day to serve them all. No wonder so many accountants end up working weekends during busy season, as you can see from the chart below.
A Time for Time Off
During the busy season of January to mid-April, accountants work crazy hours to meet tax deadlines, so some firms offer time off later in the year. PWC closes for long holiday weekends and, when possible, for more than a week between Christmas and New Year's.
Mean accounting date arrangements
390 enables a company to draw up its accounts to any date within seven days either side of its accounting reference date. HMRC will generally allow a company to adopt its year-end date for corporation tax purposes provided it does not vary more than four days from a mean date.
Yes, accounting is widely considered a stressful profession, especially during busy seasons (like tax time) due to long hours, tight deadlines, high stakes (accuracy with money), and heavy workloads, leading to significant burnout for many, though the level of stress varies by role and individual coping mechanisms.
Will AI replace accountants? Not entirely—but it will change accounting. Firms that embrace AI and technology will attract forward-thinking clients and top talent. Accountants who pair their expertise with AI tools will stay ahead of the curve.
If you work a typical job, you'll usually be in the office between Monday and Friday. Accountants often work a standard workday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an hour-long lunch break. Just keep in mind that some extra effort is required during certain times of the year.
The accounting 150-Hour Rule traditionally requires aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to complete 150 college credit hours (a master's degree or extra undergrad courses) for licensure, beyond the standard 120-hour bachelor's degree, plus experience and the CPA exam. Due to talent shortages, states are introducing new pathways, like Ohio's 2025 change, allowing a bachelor's degree, two years' experience, and the exam as alternatives to the extra schooling, making licensure more accessible.
Accounting is a demanding job that leaves accountants with little to no free time. Public accountants deal with several clients and are often overwhelmed with work.
Typical working hours for an accountant
For instance, many organizations operate between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This type of accountant schedule is common for fixed hours, and many accountants have schedules like this no matter the work environment.
While most states still require 150 credit hours for full CPA licensure, several states like Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, Oregon, Utah, California, and Arkansas are introducing alternative pathways, often substituting the extra education with additional professional experience (like two years) after earning a bachelor's degree and passing the CPA exam, making the path to licensure more flexible for entry. Some states, like New York, allow sitting for the exam with 120 hours, though the license still needs 150 hours to complete in some cases.
The 2022 study adapted the MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory) measure to rate participants on a 100-point scale and found that a staggering 99% of accountants suffer from burnout.
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Accounting Today reported that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% decline in bookkeeping, accounting and auditing jobs by 2023 due to technological advancements. These factors make students question the long-term viability of accounting as a career.
It has been estimated that over 75% of accountants are introverts. This compares to the general population which has a 50/50 split between introverts and extroverts (the 1998 Myers-Briggs study in the USA found 50.7% of the general population are introverts and 49.3% are extroverts).
Accountants are one of the least happy careers in the United States. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, accountants rate their career happiness 2.6 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 6% of careers.
Here are four cons of working in the accounting field: