Insights on Navigating Busy Season

Feb 10, 2025

Dive into the storm of busy season in the accounting world, where long hours challenge work-life balance. Discover the impact of leadership on team sustainability and the importance of self-care amid stress. Explore groundbreaking strategies like automation, while tackling the staffing shortage crisis. The conversation also highlights invaluable mentorship experiences, emphasizing empathy and constructive criticism as tools for professional growth. Reflect on the shared resilience between accountants and athletes, and learn how to cultivate meaningful mentor relationships during taxing times.

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ANECDOTE

Joey's Childhood Busy Season

Joey's mom was an accountant, so busy season meant pizza with dad and occasional PB&Js.
A present always appeared after April 15th, apologizing for her absence.

ANECDOTE

Hannah's Boundary Setting

Hannah's first job had a 10-day month-end close for an $80M company, requiring long hours.
Despite this, she set firm boundaries to remain a present mom.

ADVICE

Self-Care and Leadership

Prioritize self-care and set boundaries; individual change is important.
Real change requires leadership actively fostering a better work environment.

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Episode Title:

Insights on Navigating Busy Season

Episode Summary:

In this podcast episode, Joey and Hannah delve into the rigors of busy season in the accounting industry, discussing the personal and professional challenges it presents. They share their experiences with long hours, work-life balance, and the need for industry change. While highlighting the importance of leadership in creating sustainable work environments and the role of self-care, they also explore the value of mentorship and being open to advice and constructive criticism, emphasizing the significance of empathy and communication in the workplace.

Episode Quote:

"The 'it just is what it is' mentality is to me a piece of bad advice. I really struggle with accepting that to just be truth when there are alternate ways to get a job done effectively." -Hannah Hood

The finer details of this episode:

● Impact of leadership on addressing workload and personal challenges

● Effects of automation and delegation on busy season workload

● Staffing shortage as a significant challenge in the industry

● Importance of self-care and empathy in the workplace

Episode resources:

● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/

● Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: youngcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com

● We’re hiring! Check out our open positions: https://www.summitcpa.net/career-opportunities

Timestamps:

Understanding Busy Season (00:00:23)

Joey and Hannah share their childhood experiences and initial challenges during busy seasons in the accounting industry.

Personal Boundaries and Work-Life Balance (00:02:17)

Hannah discusses setting boundaries and maintaining work-life balance while managing a busy accounting job with a family.

Finding Little Wins and Industry Changes (00:05:29)

Joey talks about finding small victories during busy seasons and discusses changes in the industry's approach to busy seasons.

The Future of Busy Season (00:08:16)

Joey and Hannah discuss the likelihood of busy season ever ending and the impact of automation and staffing shortages.

Challenging the Status Quo (00:11:42)

Hannah challenges the notion that busy season just "is what it is" and advocates for change in work-life balance expectations.

Leadership and Cultural Change (00:14:06)

Joey criticizes outdated leadership advice and discusses the need for cultural change in the accounting industry.

Individual vs. Leadership Responsibility (00:17:39)

The conversation shifts to the role of individuals and leadership in driving change and improving work conditions in the industry.

Self-care and Leadership (00:18:01)

Importance of self-care and leadership in bringing about change in the industry.

Empathy and Management (00:19:06)

Discussion on empathy in management and understanding the struggles of team members.

Work-Life Balance and Culture (00:20:04)

Challenges of work-life balance, creating an environment for employees' well-being, and changing corporate culture.

Communication and Responsibility (00:22:30)

Importance of open communication and individual responsibility in addressing work-related challenges.

Mentorship and Influence (00:24:51)

The significance of mentorship in office culture and the influence of mentors in early careers.

Constructive Criticism and Mentorship (00:31:15)

Struggles with constructive criticism and evolving perspectives on mentorship as one matures in their career.

Tactical Conversations and Learning (00:34:46)

The value of tactical conversations and learning from mentors in professional growth.

Investment in the Process (00:36:33)

The importance of mutual investment in professional relationships and the learning process.

Being Comfortable with Being Wrong (00:37:31)

Discussion on being comfortable with not having all the answers and seeking constructive criticism.

The Impact of Grades on Learning (00:39:29)

Exploration of the relationship between grades, learning, and success, with a focus on the millennial generation's perspective.

Athletes and Mentorship (00:42:03)

Anecdotal discussion on the potential advantages of athletes in mentor-mentee relationships and their comfort with taking instruction.

The Role of Coachability in Success (00:42:47)

Exploration of the importance of coachability and willingness to accept help, particularly in relation to athletes and their success.

Intentionality in Seeking Mentorship (00:49:59)

Advice on being intentional and proactive in seeking mentorship, including reaching out and showing understanding for busy schedules.

Building Mentorship Relationships (00:51:04)

Advice on initiating mentorship conversations by asking about the other person's expertise and seeking their advice, reframing the conversation to focus on the mentor.

Opportunities for Career Development (00:52:44)

Promotion of remote work opportunities and open positions for career development at Summit Virtual CFO and Anders CPAs and Advisors.