Introduction to a Chartered Accountant's Daily Routine

A Chartered Accountant (CA) typically has a varied daily routine depending on their specific role, whether in public practice, industry, or government. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the daily routine of a CA, comparing it between pre-pandemic, during pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. This comparison will shed light on the evolving nature of work in a shared services center, specifically focusing on operations for a financial due diligence unit.

What is Your Daily Routine as a Chartered Accountant?

For a typical CA, daily activities can be categorized into morning, midday, afternoon, and evening routines. Here’s a general outline of a CA's daily routine:

Morning

Review Emails and Correspondence: Check important messages from clients, colleagues, or regulatory bodies. Plan the Day: Prioritize tasks and set goals based on deadlines and ongoing projects. Client Meetings: Conduct meetings with clients to discuss financial statements, tax planning, or audit findings.

Midday

Financial Analysis: Analyze financial data, prepare reports, and ensure compliance with accounting standards. Tax Preparation: Work on tax returns, research tax regulations, and provide tax planning advice to clients. Team Collaboration: Collaborate with colleagues on projects, share insights, and provide guidance to junior staff.

Afternoon

Client Consultations: Meet with clients to review their financial status, discuss budgets, or provide strategic advice. Continuing Education: Stay updated on accounting regulations and practices through training sessions or professional development.

Evening

Finalize Reports: Complete financial reports, audits, or tax documents before deadlines. Review and Plan: Review the day's work and plan tasks for the next day. Ensure all client communications are addressed. Additional Activities: Attend industry events or seminars to network with other professionals and stay informed about trends. Administrative Tasks: Handle administrative duties such as invoicing, scheduling, and client follow-ups.

Pre-Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Routines in a Shared Services Center

The routine can vary significantly based on the specific responsibilities of a CA and the time of year, especially during busy seasons like tax season. For a shared services center, especially during the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods, the routine has undergone notable changes. Let us delve into these differences through the lens of a deputy lead for an eight-member team in the financial due diligence unit.

Pre-Pandemic Routine

On-site: Log-in at 8 am, usually with a cab pick-up system from a remote location. Evaluate the volume of work and team capacity. Discuss with managers if ad hoc resources are available for projects with tight timelines. Start working on your own requests around 10 am. Finalize projects and share with onshore teams before evening. Avail evening bus service or book night cab drop service (often faced with challenges due to demand).

An average day on the floor usually lasted at least 12 hours.

Post-Pandemic Routine (WFH Days)

Log-in time at 7:30 am, early morning wake-up calls. Evaluate overnight mails and work volume through virtual checks with team members. IT issues often hamper the beginning of the day. Remote working challenges screen availability and follow-ups. Evening hours are the busiest as people may log off after completion, leading to variable log-out times, sometimes extending to midnight.

During the pandemic, the transition from on-site to fully remote working required significant coordination and adaptability. The absence of in-person connections introduced new challenges that required innovative solutions to maintain productivity and collaborate effectively.

Conclusion

Being a Chartered Accountant in a shared services center involves much more than just completing projects. It requires adaptability, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage time effectively. As we move towards a post-pandemic work environment, the importance of these skills and the evolving nature of the profession will continue to shape the daily routines of professionals in this field.