Introduction
Hi, my name is Rista Aprilia. I am a fourth year bachelor degree student at Saxion University of Applied Sciences. I take a major in International Finance and Accounting. This mini psychology accounting research is my project for the Honours Programme Creativity in Finance and Accounting, and I would like to share it with you.
What was the first thing that came to mind when you heard the word Accountant?
In the beginning, the idea of being an accountant is traditionally associated with an office-based person who does not have time to maintain their well-being by, for example, being outside in nature. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has changed the work life of the accountant. Recently, research has been conducted about the work-life balance of accountants, and the results are surprising. Several findings reveal how the pandemic changed the accountant's work-life balance. This article was created to share the surprising findings in regard to the impact of COVID-19 on the accountant's work-life. The key findings from this research have been identified and are shown below:
- Transformation of Communication
COVID-19 was a turning point where accountants learned the importance of technology for communication. Digitalisation emerged a long time before the COVID-19 pandemic appeared. However, since the appearance of the pandemic, almost every office role had no choice and has to adapt to use communication applications like Microsoft Teams or Zoom Video Communications. The good thing is that people have learned to adapt, and now accountants can work together with their colleagues, even when one is in the office and the other at home. To improve the leak of communication that accountants experienced during Covid, I recommend the use of communication training (Bernal-Turnes, Ernst, & Ordeix, 2023).
- Work Flexibility
Work flexibility was never part of an accountant's work life. However, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a chance for the accountant to work with more flexibility. An accountant can work from home, from the office, and even work out during the morning and evening. This flexibility provides the accountant with a lot more possibilities, without affecting the work quality whilst providing a better work-life balance (Latorre et al., 2021).
- Creativity Stimulation
There are also some positive sides as to how an accountant can maximise or even improve the quality of their work with digital tools. This provided opportunities in work that previously could not be done remotely. The accountant needed creativity to keep working, especially during the lockdown period. There was no other choice for the accountant than to create a new way of working; otherwise, it was not even possible to work. However, these creative new opportunities proved to be beneficial in regard to improving the accounting job and the work-life balance (Duarte & Gauntlett, 2022).
- Revealing the Importance of Personal Life
Before COVID-19 appeared, the typical day for an accountant was waking up early morning, going to the office to work, back home, and only a couple of hours of personal life. However, since COVID-19 appeared, accountants have had a chance to experience longer hours seeing their family or doing other personal life-related activities. From there, accountants realised the importance of personal life, so in return the personal and work-life priority was shifted (Chen & Olsen, 2022).
- The Blurred Work and Personal Life
As mentioned, there was a shifting preference between work and personal life. However, the boundaries between work life and personal life also become unclear. For example, the time when the accountant should work can become longer, as they are expected to be available when there is a call for a job. Therefore, it is important to create boundaries on when accountants need to focus on work and private life—for example, creating a special space in the home for work only. That way, the boundaries between work and private life can be managed (Kerman, Korunka, & Tement, 2021).
- The Emerging Trend of Hybrid Work
Lately, there are many hybrid work opportunities offered by companies for accountants. These trends are based on the fact that accountant was learning about the possibility of working from home. However, accountants understand that for various reasons only working from home cannot enable them to work properly, for example the lack of being able to sit together with a team. Therefore, hybrid work appeared, which also appeared favourable for most of the accountants interviewed. Hybrid work enables the accountant to work from home for a couple of days a week, and come to the office for the rest of the week or when it is necessary to come to the office (Smite, Moe, Hildrum, Gonzalez-Huerta, & Mendez, 2023).
Conclusion
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has changed accountants' work-life balance in several ways. Firstly, the way of communication has transformed to be more digitalised. Secondly, accounting work has been more flexible. Thirdly, accountants are also more creative to be able to perform their work. Covid also has revealed the importance of personal life. However, there is an emerging issue of blurred work and personal life. And lastly, the emerging trend of hybrid work.
What is next?
It is always a mystery of what the future can bring. There may be more breakthroughs in the accounting world or even in the other type of work. One thing is for sure: these breakthroughs in the accounting world as a result of learning from the COVID-19 pandemic have made the profession tougher against any obstacle.
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