As accountants and bookkeepers worldwide experience high levels of stress and burnout, Deakin's Counting on U team is working with industry to develop an index to definitively track their wellbeing in Australia.
Since 2021, Counting on U has conducted research and delivered mental health training to thousands of accountants and bookkeepers, to promote wellbeing across small business.
Launching in early 2025, their latest initiative is the Australian Accountants & Bookkeepers Wellbeing Index (AABWI) set to provide a robust measure of the levels of wellbeing in the bookkeeping and accounting professions over time.
The data it provides will be an essential foundation for initiatives to improve wellbeing and reduce workplace and professional stress points.
To develop the AABWI, Counting on U is working in partnership with the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), CPA Australia, Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), the Australian Bookkeepers Association and Beyond Blue.
Why focus on accountants & bookkeepers’ wellbeing?
Despite the mental health of workers fading from the spotlight post-pandemic, addressing these concerns is more critical than ever, given the added strain from economic conditions, rising cost of living, and global tensions.
A 2023 global survey by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants revealed that mental health is the second highest concern for accountants, while a 2022 survey commissioned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales found over half of accountants suffer from stress and burnout.
Accountants and bookkeepers face stress from long working hours, tight deadlines, increased regulatory scrutiny, and acting as intermediaries between the ATO and clients. Recent inquiries have further shown that high-pressure firm cultures, excessive workload, bullying, and harassment continue to be challenges for the profession. Those working with SMEs are also often affected by the emotional demands of supporting financially stressed clients.
Taken together, it’s no surprise that stress and burnout are on the rise, prompting many to consider leaving the profession—an especially concerning trend given the current shortage of skilled staff within the industry.
Measuring the true state of wellbeing in the industry
This is why Counting on U is launching the AABWI, a pioneering tool designed to assess industry wellbeing over time. It will:
- Provide an accurate snapshot of the mental health and wellbeing of Australian accounting and bookkeeping professionals, benchmarked against global standards and local data
- Identify the key sources of stress in the profession
- Develop wellbeing profiles for various industry groups
- Focus advocacy efforts on areas of greatest need and develop targeted policies, guidelines and resources that address the profession’s challenges
Your involvement
Stay tuned for exciting updates on how you can get involved with the AABWI! In the coming weeks, you’ll have the chance to help develop an industry-specific stressor scale for which you stand to gain CPD/CPE points for your involvement. Following this, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the inaugural AABWI survey once it is launched. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to contribute and make a difference!
Contact Counting on U to find out how to take part in the AAWBI
