That’s the reality inside most finance teams right now and it’s breaking people.
Finance isn’t tired, it’s exhausted.
This isn’t a wellness issue. It’s a leadership and resourcing issue.
The real fixes aren’t fluffy, they’re operational.
Here’s what actually helps.
1. Resourcing & Workload
Stop asking teams to do more with less.
- Hire for future workload, not past headcount
- Build rolling capacity plans
- Outsource repetitive work
- Rotate roles to balance the load
- Add temporary cover during peaks
- Empower your team to push back on non-essential requests
2. Process & Efficiency
It’s time to clean house.
- Eliminate reports that no one reads
- Automate reconciliations and manual journals
- Share dashboards instead of endless spreadsheets
- Cut meetings in half
- Create clear, simple month-end processes
- Review everything annually with a “stop, start, continue” approach
3. Leadership & Culture
Culture isn’t built in posters, it’s built in practice.
- Model healthy boundaries
- Make it safe to say “I’m at capacity”
- Reward efficiency, not exhaustion
- Redefine resilience, it’s not about survival
- Train leaders to manage people, not just performance
- Reinforce boundaries around time off and downtime
4. Communication & Expectations
Misalignment burns people faster than workload.
- Set quarterly priorities clearly
- Align CFO, CEO, and Board expectations
- Be transparent about resource gaps
- Create honest two-way feedback loops
- Hold short, consistent check-ins to stay connected
5. Wellbeing & Recovery
Wellbeing isn’t about perks, it’s about permission.
- Protect leave and make it sacred again
- Block out mandatory rest after big close periods
- Offer flexibility that works in practice, not just policy
- Support mental health in action, not slogans
- Step in early when someone’s clearly struggling
In short: Finance people don’t need yoga. They need oxygen.
Architecting Success in Sydney's Finance Landscape, Richard Holmes is Co-Founder and Director of HPR Consulting. Since 2006, he's been pivotal in connecting hundreds of top-tier finance professionals with leading ASX-listed, private, and multinational companies.
Are you an organisation seeking the best accounting and finance talent? Are you a senior finance professional ready for your next career leap? Richard's dedication to fostering connections ensures success for both sides of the equation.
Contact Richard today.
- richardh@hprconsulting.com
- 0403 513 720