Why CPAs Need to Stop Glorifying Overwork: Challenging the Toxic Culture of CPA Burnout

I remember the first time I felt proud of how overworked I was. I was in my first job. The company had recently undergone a number of changes that resulted in working overtime for most of my first year there. At the same time, I was studying for the CPA exam, and all of my hours were filled with accounting.

I felt validated. Like I was earning my place. Like I was proving I had what it took to make it in this profession.

Looking back, I can see how wrong that was.

Somewhere along the way, CPAs have bought into the belief that long hours equal dedication. That working yourself to exhaustion is a badge of honor. That being constantly buried in work is just part of the job.

But let me ask you - how many burned-out, overworked CPAs do you know who actually love their careers? Who feel energized about their work? Who are truly happy?

Not many.

The Reality of Overwork in Public Accounting

For years, I told myself I was okay. That the stress, the long weeks, the constant turnover - it was just part of the deal. I believed that if I worked hard enough, if I sacrificed enough, it would eventually pay off.

But all I got was more work. More pressure. More expectations.

I watched colleagues burn out and leave the profession entirely. I saw talented accountants give up their personal lives, their health, their happiness - all for firms that would replace them the second they left.

I knew something had to change when I sat in my office, exhausted, on what should have been a vacation day, answering emails and reviewing workpapers because I felt guilty for taking time off.

That's when it hit me - no one was coming to save me from this cycle.

I had to break it myself.

Overwork Doesn't Make You a Better CPA - It Just Makes You Exhausted

Here's the truth: working longer hours doesn't make you more productive. It makes you less effective. CPA burnout is a real problem in the profession, yet many accountants still believe that long hours are just part of the job. I used to think the same way - until I realized that overwork wasn't a sign of success, but a fast track to exhaustion.

There's plenty of research to back this up - our brains can only handle so much deep work before focus and decision-making start to decline. But more importantly, I've lived it.

The year before I left my firm, I was working 10 months of overtime a year. My vacation days maxed out because I never had time to take them. My sick days went unused because I felt guilty calling in.

Then, when I started my own firm, I made a decision: I wasn't going to build a business that required me to sacrifice my health and happiness.

So, I focused on efficiency. I streamlined my audit process, leveraged technology, and set clear boundaries. And you know what happened?

I cut my audit hours in half. My income surpassed what I made in my former public accounting firm. And I actually enjoyed my work again.

Not because I worked harder. But because I worked smarter.

Breaking the Cycle of CPA Burnout in Public Accounting

If we want to change the culture of overwork in this profession, it starts with us.

You Don't Have to Burn Out to be Successful

I know the fear. I know the mindset that tells you:

"If I don't work this hard, I won't make it."

"If I don't prove myself, I won't be valued."

"If I don't say yes to everything, I'll fall behind."

But I promise you - there's another way.

You can build a career that's both profitable and sustainable. You can run a firm that values efficiency over exhaustion. You can be an incredible CPA without sacrificing your health, happiness, or relationships.

You just have to be willing to challenge the culture that says otherwise.

So, here's my challenge to you:

The next time you find yourself working late, ask yourself - am I doing this because it's necessary? Or because I've been conditioned to believe it's expected?

And if it's the latter, what small step can you take today to change that?

Because the accounting profession doesn't need more overworked CPAs.

It needs more CPAs who are thriving.