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.
The Sydney market is competitive, and choosing the right accounting recruiter in Sydney is critical. Read more here.
Contact Richard today.
- richardh@hprconsulting.com
- 0403 513 720