What is the typical day like for a staff accountant at Weinstein Spira? I am glad you asked! As a staff accountant who rotates between tax and audit, I can speak about my typical day, noting that things vary depending on the season and whether I am working from home or in the office. Currently, Weinstein Spira allows me to have a home office alongside working in the corporate office a few times per week. This blog post is geared more to the tax side, as I am most familiar with this season, having joined Weinstein Spira full-time in September 2021 and started on a tax rotation at that time.
Working from Home as an Accountant
Morning
Let’s start with my home office routine, as that is what I follow most of the time. Even though I do not have a commute, I still wake up an hour before starting work to get ready—eating breakfast, taking a walk around my apartment complex, etc. When I sit down at my desk, it is a signal that the workday has begun. The first thing I do is check emails to see if there is anything that needs my immediate attention. Other than that, my daily tasks depend on my current rotation, tax or audit.
Tax:
For new tax returns, I make sure all the required information has been loaded online (including tax-related documents such as W-2s, 1099s, 1098-Ts, brokerage statements, etc.). I double-check what is there against our firm’s checklist before inputting data into the software tool we use to generate electronic returns.
If I notice anything missing, I let the reviewer know so they can follow up with the client. If there are any new documents required for this year’s tax return, I add that to the client’s checklist as something to look for again next year. Before submitting the return for review and approval by the reviewer, shareholder, and ultimately the client, I ensure correct spelling and numbers (no transposed digits). My job is to make the tax return as accurate as possible for quick and easy reviewing.
If I have questions during this process, I save them up and email the reviewer in bulk. When needed, we meet face-to-face or via teleconference to discuss any technical issues, which may result in a walkthrough to resolve the problem.
Audit:
I will have to get back to you about my audit rotation. Part two is coming soon!
Afternoon into Evening
My lunch time and what I eat varies from day to day. At home, it consists of something light from the refrigerator, and then maybe a quick coffee break at Starbucks down the street. Afterwards, I continue to work on tax returns, which is an all-day activity during busy season. To combat fatigue or burnout, I switch gears at about 4 or 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and head to a local CrossFit gym where I take some “me” time for a couple of hours. This gets me out of the house or office and refreshes my brain to do more work after dinner, if needed. Weinstein Spira has a flex-time policy that lets me work evenings and weekends to complete my work assignments, as long as I am available during core office hours Monday through Friday to take phone calls and/or attend meetings.
Working in the Office as an Accountant
There are benefits to working from home but there are some cool aspects when I do go into the office. The main differences when going into the office are what I wear, my commute, and getting to see people face-to-face. The social aspect is what adds real value to my day, as it is the only time I go out to lunch. Nothing fancy, but even a short walk to the nearby sandwich shop to grab a bite goes a long way in strengthening connections, building camaraderie and expanding my network—a valuable use of my time, both personally and professionally.
After Hours
Regardless of where I spend the workday, when I finally log out of my computer, there is still more. Studying for the CPA exam is currently an important part of my daily routine and will be until I pass the exam itself. I also make it a point to get together with friends whenever I can, including participation in a recreational softball league on Friday nights—a wonderful way to end the week and relieve stress!
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Summary
I admit I have a lot on my plate! But the flexibility of working at Weinstein Spira helps me to do it all. The ability to work from home is a big plus, enabling me to fit more into a day without becoming overwhelmed. I love my job and the balanced work-life culture!
