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29 Apr, 2025
How To Create a Workplace Culture that Accountancy Professionals Really Want
29 Apr, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- Why workplace culture is important.
- What a toxic work culture is and its impact.
- How to create a workplace culture that accountancy professionals really want.
- Insights from accountancy professionals about work culture.
- More about our accountancy recruitment services to help you hire the best talent for your practice.
Is your accountancy practice’s workplace culture aligned with the expectations of today’s professionals? If you’re struggling with staff retention and can’t quite pinpoint the cause, it might be time to take a closer look at your workplace environment.
According to the 2025 Accountancy and Finance Report, more than 50% of accountancy professionals said culture was ‘very important’ when looking for a job and a further 37% said it was ‘important’.
Understanding and shaping your workplace culture is crucial - not just for attracting top talent, but also for ensuring your current employees are engaged and motivated to perform at their best. In today’s competitive landscape, a positive and supportive work culture can be the difference between retaining skilled professionals and watching them move on to other opportunities.
Throughout this blog, we will explore how to create a workplace culture that resonates with accountancy professionals. With insights from those already working in the industry, we’ll dive into the key elements that make a culture thrive, and how you can implement these strategies to build an environment that supports both employee satisfaction and business success.
Why is workplace culture important?
While a positive workplace is key to any organisation’s success, culture is often overlooked despite its direct impact on how people feel, perform and thrive at work. A successful workplace culture is about empowering employees to share the same goals and values that contribute to an organisation’s success. When employees align with the company’s mission, they are more likely to collaborate and take initiative which drives success.
Workplace culture is shaped by a range of factors and can be perceived differently by each individual. This can make it difficult to meet everyone's expectations and improve employee experience for all, however, it’s important that your workplace doesn’t lose sight of its core values, which might include promoting teamwork or driving inclusivity and diversity.
Knowing what elements of culture matter most to your employees is crucial for their wellbeing, satisfaction and retention, as well as the success of a practice.
What is a toxic work culture?
According to Charity Job Finder, a toxic work culture is the primary reason why people are leaving their jobs, and the most frequently used words to describe people’s previous employers were ‘toxic,’ ‘stressful,’ and ‘unsupportive.’
A toxic culture can be made up of different factors including feelings of stress, burnout and employee conflicts, all of which can have a negative impact on mental health. A toxic workplace culture can be very harmful to an employer as it can create a negative reputation and deter people from working there. This is why employers should emphasise the importance of culture and why employees take workplace culture into consideration when making important career decisions.
How to create a workplace culture that accountancy professionals want
5 ways to create a workplace culture that accountancy professionals really want inlcude:
- Evaluate your current culture.
- Increase trust in leadership.
- Offer professional development opportunities.
- Develop and implement a culture improvement plan.
- Prioritise employee needs and wellbeing.
Evaluate your current culture
It’s important to think about what accountancy professionals really want from their career and what meaningful changes can be made to align accountancy professionals with your practice’s goals.
When evaluating your current culture, we advise focusing on how it can be optimised or improved to ensure your employees feel supported, satisfied and empowered.
Every practice is different and the values and expectations of employers can vary. To effectively evaluate your current culture, we advise asking your employees for feedback. You may choose to create a survey or questionnaire asking employees to anonymously rate their current culture and to provide any suggestions or improvements.
In the Spencer Clarke Group 2025 Accountancy and Finance Report, one senior accountancy professional said that a good company culture within an organisation, ‘gives recognition of the employee’s hard work.’
Another added that they are looking for ‘plenty of social opportunities.’ The variety of answers obtained in our report demonstrates that taking the time to discover what your employees are looking for can be of great benefit.
Think about strengthening the onboarding process, enhancing workplace facilities and what else you can implement to foster a happy, supportive workplace.
By asking for your employees' input, you can evaluate your current culture and determine how to foster a culture based on trust and inclusion.
Increase trust in leadership
In the accountancy profession where accuracy, transparency and ethical decision making are key, a trust-based culture reinforces the values that matter most.
Employees want to feel comfortable and confident speaking to management and for employers to be honest and open. Lead by example and encourage open communication among employees as well as trust between employees and workplace leaders.
One Assistant Manager in the accountancy profession said, “A bad culture often means poor management.” Another Senior shared similar values adding that it’s important that practices have ‘management who care about their staff.’
When employees don’t trust or feel supported by their employer, it can contribute to a negative workplace culture and influence how inclusive and collaborative the working environment feels.
According to a survey by Deloitte, 86% of workers believe an increasing focus on trust and transparency in the relationship between workers and the organisation is very or critically important.
Building trust and providing strong and supportive leadership actively shapes the kind of workplace culture that accountancy professionals want to be part of.
Offer professional development
Professionals in the accountancy sector are passionate about career development and are always looking for new ways to learn and progress.
One of the biggest findings in the Spencer Clarke Group 2025 Accountancy and Finance Report is that women in accountancy want a culture focused on development in order to advance their careers.
One female accountancy professional said culture was about, ‘Empowering women and having recognition programmes and a good support system.’ With women in the sector looking to expand their knowledge and expertise, adopting a growth culture is vital and contributes to a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
The same report found that 53% of male accountancy professionals believe culture is ‘important’ when looking for a job and a further 47% said it was ‘very important.’ By offering equal opportunities for professional development, accountancy practices can create a workplace culture where all team members feel valued and supported.
Develop and implement a culture improvement plan
A culture improvement plan will differ for every accountancy practice. When asked what makes a good company culture, one Junior in accountancy said, “The ability to suggest changes.” This demonstrates the importance of asking for feedback, which can then be used to make improvements to your workplace culture.
After determining what your employees want in a workplace culture, you need to take action to implement these objectives into your practice. Whether it's changing policies, providing training or adjusting your work environment, it's important to create a culture improvement plan that enhances culture in your practice.
Involving your employees in the planning process can increase their engagement and commitment to culture. Remember to measure progress and check in with employees to ensure they are all happy with the changes and that your workplace culture is improving.
Prioritise employee needs and wellbeing
It’s important to be inclusive and respectful of all employees’ needs and wellbeing. According to the Accounting Talent Index, 88% of worldwide professionals say increased working hours are ‘significantly’ harming their mental health, work life balance and stress levels.
At a time when mental health and wellbeing is a top priority, having a culture that actively supports and genuinely cares for employees has never been more important.
An Assistant Manager said, “Superficial benefits such as private medical cover does not help to improve people’s wellbeing while a better work life balance would definitely help this.”
Professionals are increasingly looking for meaningful support from their employers and proactive ways to prioritise their wellbeing and personal needs.
Employers can accommodate individuals' needs by offering flexible work arrangements, access to mental health resources and tailored support systems. Having a healthy and supportive work environment helps employers create a workplace culture that accountancy professionals want and need to thrive.
Discover what Accountancy & Finance professionals are looking for in a job
As a specialist accountancy and finance recruitment agency, we understand how to support accountancy practices and private sector businesses in their mission to attract, engage and retain the best talent.
After conducting extensive research with accountancy and finance professionals, we compiled the What Accountancy & Finance Professionals Are Really Looking for in a Job in 2025 report.
The report delves into the key factors shaping job preferences and expectations within the industry and uncovers topics such as preferred salary, perks, benefits, work flexibility and work culture.
Read the full What Accountancy & Finance Professionals Are Really Looking for in a Job in 2025 report here.
Accountancy recruitment services
As specialist accountancy recruiters, we support practices nationwide with their permanent recruitment needs.
Whether you’re searching for a tax, audit or payroll specialist, we will help you to find whoever you need to make your practice thrive.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with Management Consultant Lauren Bailey on 01772 954200 to see how we can help?
Accountancy jobs
If you’re searching for your next accountancy job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Meet Lauren Bailey
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
