Are people truly busy for 40 hours a week, EVERY week at work in their finance role?
I have been working in accounting/finance since 2013. I have worked for four different fortune 500 companies. At every last one of them, I have had an insane amount of free time. I just started a new senior financial analyst position making 6 figures at the beginning of the year but this job does not take up any time at all! I’ve created new Excel files to get things in order. I plan on using Power BI to create dashboards once I get the data I need and can clean it. However, I do not foresee myself being busy for 40 hours a week, EVERY week! And this is the FOURTH job where this has happened! Is this normal? For there to be so much downtime outside of month-end close? And even then, once you know your stuff, month-end should run pretty smoothly and you can easily fix any errors that arise. Am I the only one experiencing this?
After reading the comments it seems I am an outlier. So I’ve either been extremely efficient at my roles or I have lucked out big time where these companies don’t realize that they don’t need a FTE for these roles. I’m no longer gonna feel bad though because I do want to work more but it is what it is! 🤷🏽♀️
One response
Firstly, it’s important to note that experiences can vary widely depending on the specific company, industry, and role within the finance field. That being said, it is not uncommon for certain periods within a finance role to be less busy than others, especially outside of traditional month-end close activities.
In many finance roles, such as financial analyst positions, there may be periods of downtime between projects, especially in larger companies where processes may be more streamlined. Additionally, if you are efficient at your work and able to complete tasks quickly and accurately, you may find yourself with more free time than others.
While it’s great that you are proactive in finding new projects and improving processes (e.g. creating Excel files, planning to use Power BI), it’s also important to communicate with your manager or team about your workload and availability. This can help ensure that you are not missing out on any additional tasks or projects that could be beneficial to both your development and the company.
If you continue to find yourself with excess downtime in your roles, you may consider seeking out additional responsibilities, professional development opportunities, or even discussing options for advancement within the company. It’s important to make the most of your time while also finding a balance that works for you and your career goals. Remember, every experience is unique, and it’s okay to seek out new challenges and opportunities if you feel that your current role is not fulfilling your potential.