Provisional Accounting Blog

In today’s tech-savvy world, many jobs can be completed from anywhere. In fact, 43% of employees work remotely at least sometimes, according to a 2016 Gallup survey, and this number is likely on the rise.

Due to the prominence of the trend, at least a few of your own employees have probably asked to work from home on occasion. Chances are, you want them in the office most of the time, but there’s no need to keep them chained to their desk.

As one of the leading Seattle staffing agencies, Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing believes you should give employees the freedom to work remotely, at least some of the time. This is becoming a very popular perk among employers, so if you don’t allow it, you may find it hard to attract and retain talent in the future.

Reasons to Approve Work From Home Requests

If you’ve never allowed your staff to work from home, loosening the reigns can be tough, but it must be done. Of course, you should closely monitor employee output to make sure they’re actually working, but in most cases, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Heighten Productivity

Offices are filled with distractions. From the sheer level of volume in the shared space to constant disruptions from colleagues, it’s hard for many people to focus. Consequently, many employees are much more productive at home, because they’re able to put their head down and concentrate on the task at-hand.

Increase Job Satisfaction

Working from home at least sometimes allows people to strike a healthy work-life balance. Whether they need to stay home with a sick kid or run out to a dentist appointment on their lunchbreak, your flexibility means a lot. Employees are much happier when they’re not held to a rigid schedule. When you give them leeway, they return the favor by doing their very best work.

Boost Loyalty

Every company doesn’t offer the ability to work from home. People really value this arrangement, and as a result, they stick with companies that offer it. You’ll enjoy lower turnover rates, because people know they have a good thing going.

Need to hire new accounting and finance talent? Contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing. We have you covered, whether you need to fill temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire positions.

If you’ve never had a flexible work schedule, you probably don’t understand what all the fuss is about. After all, you’ve been gracing the office from 9am to 5pm every day of your career without fail. Sure, you frequently feel tired, anxious, and stretched too thin, but that’s work, right? Actually, no. It doesn’t have to be that way.

In recent years, many City of Seattle jobs have shifted to a flexible schedule. Now that you’re searching for new opportunities, do yourself a favor and focus on those with companies willing to help you strike a solid work-life balance.

Three Reasons Your Mental Health Will Improve with a Flexible Work Schedule

A flexible work schedule comes in many different forms — i.e., remote work, flextime, compressed work week — but all offer the same healthy lifestyle benefits. Find out what you have to gain from this type of arrangement.

Shorten Your Commute

Whether you travel to and from work by car, train, or bus, you probably get anxious by the sheer volume of people sharing your journey during prime rush hour. When you have a flexible work schedule, you can minimize this — or completely avoid it with remote work — by coming into the office at a time that suits you. Opt to beat the crowds with an early schedule or wait them out by holding later hours.

Spend More Time With Loved Ones

Quality time with family and friends is a great way to boost your mental health, but a rigid work schedule can easily put a wrench in that. The ability to create your own schedule allows you to work around your loved ones. For example, you can arrange your work hours to ensure you’re able to drop your kids off at school in the mornings and pick them up in the evenings.

Become More Productive

It’s hard to focus on work when you’re constantly distracted by office chatter or exhausted from getting up at an early hour your body just can’t handle. When you’re able to set your own schedule, you can do so in a way that maximizes your productivity. For example, if you like to stay up late, get a solid night’s sleep, come into the office at 10am and stay until 6pm. No matter how you do it, a flexible schedule can help you feel better and become more efficient.

Want to start 2018 with a flexible new accounting or finance job? Team up with Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing to find a temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire opportunity with a leading Seattle company!

There’s no better time to set fresh goals for your career than a new year. Now that we’re about halfway January, you’re starting to look towards the next step. If you’re searching for a new job, you’re probably busy making new contacts and searching for resume power words, but do realize, long-term success requires a roadmap.

Setting five-year goals is a must, because your actions today directly impact where you’ll be tomorrow. In some cases, success is a matter of luck, but for most people, it’s just great planning. If you don’t already have your goals in place, stop everything and set them.

4 Reasons to Set 5-Year Goals in 2018

Get on Track

Aimlessly floating from job-to-job or project-to-project will get you nothing but a whole lot of random experience. When you have five-year goals in place, you’re able to map your path to success. This allows you to figure out exactly what you should be doing now to ensure you’re able to achieve your long-term objective.

Stay Motivated

Right now, five years might seem like a long time away. However, having an objective to look toward will help you stay inspired. You’ll also be able to reflect on all the smaller accomplishments you’ve completed to get closer to your ultimate goal, which will push you to keep up the great work.

Optimize Your Time

Your time is valuable, so you need to make the most of it. When you have five-year goals in place, it’s much easier to choose activities that offer the greatest reward. This allows you to focus on projects that will help you get closer to your dream job, instead of wasting time on ventures that offer little-to-no benefit.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Setting five-year goals gives you no choice but to hold yourself accountable for your success. When you fly by the seat of your pants, your actions have no consequences, but the opposite is true when you have goals to meet. You don’t want to let yourself down, so these objectives add a truly beneficial layer of responsibility to your life.

If you’re ready to made a career change, Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing wants to help. Contact us today to learn how we can guide your search for a rewarding accounting or finance job in the Seattle area. 

A new year is the perfect time for a fresh start, but it’s hard to know what actions to take without a little guidance. Thankfully, there are plenty of books on the market that can be hugely beneficial to managers. As one of the top staffing agencies in Seattle, Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing recommends adding the following five titles to your early-2018 reading list.

5 Books All Managers Should Read to Kickstart the New Year

“Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity” — Kim Scott

Written by former Google and Apple executive Kim Scott, “Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity,” explains how to be a kind-yet-challenging manager. Her framework for success will help you become a more effective leader and a better colleague. If your managerial role often leaves you stressed, this book will give you a new prospective.

“Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” — Simon Sinek

Chances are, you’ve probably watched leadership expert Simon Sinek’s TED Talk “Start With Why,” so now it’s time to read the book. “Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” focuses on the reasons some companies and leaders realize greater success than others. Sinek explains that the world’s greatest leaders actually think, behave, and communicate the same way, which will definitely give you something to ponder.

“The One Minute Manager” — Kenneth H. Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

If you haven’t read this classic management book, it’s time to change that. “The One Minute Manager,” offers techniques to help improve your productivity, job satisfaction, and personal success. Written on the premise that one-minute goals, praises, and reprimands are the most effective approach, you’ll learn the science behind this theory and how to apply these practices to your own life.

“Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice From the Best in the World” — Tim Ferriss

In 2017, Tim Ferriss, author of “The 4-Hour Workweek,” came back with “Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice From the Best in the World.” More of a life-enhancement read than a traditional business book, Ferriss interviewed world-class performers to learn their secrets to success. A playbook of sorts, you’ll learn everything from strategies to create an optimal morning routine to how to assess your priorities.

“The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Thing Done” — Peter F. Drucker

Another management classic, “The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Thing Done,” focuses on accomplishing what others overlook. Drucker shares five practices he considers essential to business success that you can put to work at your own job. Be prepared to get results after reading this book and taking his words of wisdom to heart.

Don’t take a gamble on your 2018 hiring decisions. Team up with Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing to find the right person for every accounting and finance opening on your team. Contact us today to learn what you have to gain from a partnership!