Redefining Busy Season: Flexibility in Today’s Accounting Careers

Aaron Lorraine, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, Hungerford

Today’s workers are putting more stock in their work-life balance than ever before.

A 2025 Randstad survey found that 85% of workers said work-life balance is more important than pay when it comes to their current or future job.

As mental health becomes a priority for more people, it’s no wonder why job seekers are looking to work for an organization that offers flexibility and values people’s time outside of normal working hours.

That includes public accounting firms, which in the past have had an unfair reputation for offering boring and uncreative jobs with long hours, especially during tax season.

However, not all firms are created equal. Here are four ways forward-thinking organizations are redefining what it means to be a public accounting firm.

Clear Expectations Around Busy Seasons

Busy season is unavoidable, but burnout doesn’t have to be.

Look for an organization that clearly lays out its expectations for its employees and interns during this time. For example, how many hours you’ll be expected to work and what time off you can expect.

No matter which accounting firm you work at, you’ll probably be working more hours than normal during the busy season. At Hungerford, the workload tends to be more manageable, with expectations that generally avoid excessive overtime for both interns and full-time staff.

Even in the busiest times, our team is committed to showing up, staying focused, and supporting one another. And we make sure to keep things fun: think catered lunches, spontaneous coffee runs, and full-team dinners that turn into laughter-filled evenings. Even when the work is intense, the camaraderie makes it worthwhile.

Figuring out what those expectations are before you begin an internship, or a new job will help you avoid surprises when the busy season rolls around.

Flexible Schedules and Hybrid Working Options

Flexibility means something different for everyone. It could mean being able to step away for an hour to go to a doctor’s appointment or working outside of normal business hours to accommodate a busy family schedule.

You want to look for firms that offer flexible schedules and hybrid working options, as these benefits show they value their employees as human beings and not rigid robots chained to their desks from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Hungerford employees have the freedom to tailor their work schedules to suit their preferences, with options that may include hybrid work, alternative hours, or condensed workweeks. And when things slow down—like in the summer—it’s common for people to take extended time off or scale back their hours a bit.

Determine how the firm defines flexibility the next time you interview for an open position, so you can decide if that fits with your lifestyle.

A Culture That Respects Boundaries

When you’re out of the office, you’re out of the office.

Everyone needs time to rest and recharge, so avoid organizations that don’t respect your weekends or vacation time with message alerts or multiple phone calls.

At Hungerford, our teams prioritize proactive planning and employee cross-training to ensure we have the internal capacity for team members to take time off confidently and without disruption.

Of course, it would be misleading to suggest we never contact an employee when they are out of the office. But those are reserved for emergencies when all other options have been exhausted.

If you can, talk to a few employees before you accept any job. They’ll be able to tell you what weekends and vacations look like and if being off actually means being off.

Support for Personal and Professional Goals

Learning doesn’t stop once you’ve gotten the job, and that’s especially true for public accountants. Firms that invest in their employees’ development keep them longer and help them grow faster.

For example, many public accounting firms, including Hungerford, offer opportunities for in-house CPE. However, it’s not a requirement for any firm to do so, so you’ll want to verify with the firm before you accept a new job.

Anyone interested in obtaining their CPA or any other relevant certification will need to pay for study materials and exam fees. It’s common for firms to cover these costs for their employees, and not only does Hungerford do that, but it also offers peer study groups, paid study time, and a bonus when they pass the exam.

Having more credentialed professionals—such as CPAs—demonstrates to our clients that Hungerford is deeply committed to expertise and excellence. That’s why we believe it’s only fair to reward team members who invest in furthering their education and advancing their qualifications.

Build Your Career with Us

We value each and every member of our team. We’re proud to have a turnover rate lower than the national average because when people feel supported, they stick around.

Sound like something you want? Let’s talk about what your career at Hungerford could look like.