- According to BLS data for 2008, nearly 50 percent of accountants put in an eight-hour day five days a week; however accountants who ran their own accounting business with a larger clientele, and some employed in offices, put in long hours of work. The tax period, from January to middle of April, is hectic for accountants, and they are more likely to take their work home as well to meet deadlines; this is more likely to leave them with less time to spend with family.
- The job of an accountant revolves around numbers and details. There is less room for creativity except for those in tax consulting who have opportunities to give innovative financial solutions for their clients. Job dissatisfaction is more likely to arise if balance sheets and fact analysis don't interest you and you find concentrating on details for long hours tedious.
- Deadline burden during tax season is a key source of stress, which impacts health of accountants. Accountants typically are desk-bound doing their work using computers, which makes them sedentary. Accountants are vulnerable to stress-induced headaches, weight gain and vision problems from prolonged viewing of computer screens. Long hours of sitting exposes accountants to the risk of SIT or Seated Immobility Thromboembolism, a condition where blood circulation to the legs decreases, increasing the likelihood of formation of blood clots in deep veins.
- Individuals seeking to work with corporate accounting giants must be prepared to adapt themselves to the work culture of these firms. It is also likely that you don't get to choose the type of clients you prefer to work with, in these settings, especially during the starting years. Occasional or frequent travel is more likely to be part of the job function, and this can be particularly difficult if you're a person who likes to spend more at home.
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