Being a Working Parent at Christmas During One of the Busiest Times for Accountants

Answering the question of what it’s like to be a working mum at Christmas isn’t simple. Being a parent to a toddler while working in accountancy is a constant balancing act, and I’m sure many working dads will relate to that feeling too.

My daughter is in nursery, and I’m genuinely grateful that Clarity allows me to work my five-day week across four days. When I returned from maternity leave, I didn’t have to choose between progressing in my career and spending time with my daughter. I gained a full day every week with her and avoided an extra day of childcare costs. That flexibility changed everything.

Her grandparents work, so nursery is where she spends most of her weekdays. The staff are wonderful, and she gets to be around other children, learning and playing as she grows. They even run festive events like Breakfast with Santa, which gives us the chance to be part of her Christmas world, even when work is at its busiest.

While many offices spend December talking about party outfits or planning Secret Santa, it’s very different in accountancy. Christmas is the final push. It’s chasing clients for records that still haven’t appeared. It’s three hours on hold with HMRC. It’s managing the endless stream of March year-end companies (that, despite our best efforts, always give their records in as a Christmas gift 😊). Late nights don’t just happen; they become routine, and as a working mum, that brings its own challenges.

I make sure my weekends and my day off are ours. Whether we stay home or head out, we do everything together. We laugh, we explore, we reset. Every moment makes me proud of her, and I hope one day she’ll look back and feel proud of me too. I have a job I genuinely enjoy, and it keeps a roof over her head and presents under the tree.

Most families can’t afford the option of not working anymore. So if you are going to work, it should be something you enjoy. And if there’s one thing I can gently ask this Christmas, it’s this. If you can get your records in early, please do. It helps accountants get home a little earlier to be with their families too.

Nicole Haine