Accounting
Working with ADHD: A toolkit for accountants
According to a recent study published in
The accounting profession is no exception. There’s a growing number of accountants admitting they have ADHD and their struggles with the neurological condition. This
Furthermore, industry thought leaders like
1. A good number of accountants have this condition.
2. It’s not a weakness, and it’s possible to thrive with ADHD in a profession like accounting.
In light of all these, we wanted to create a resource to help accounting, bookkeeping, and tax professionals with ADHD. In this piece, we’ll share practical tips and resources to help manage your ADHD and flourish.
Challenges faced by accountants with ADHD
While ADHD has strengths, such as
1. Difficulty with organization and prioritization.
2. Time management struggles. A
3. Issues with focus and concentration. By definition, ADHD implies difficulty with sustained focus and concentration. This can be particularly challenging in accounting, which often requires extended periods of intense focus on detailed financial information and complex calculations. Accountants with ADHD may find it harder to maintain concentration in these cases, leading to errors or missing details that could have significant consequences.
4. Sensory overload. While sensory overload (the experience of being overwhelmed by sensory input from the environment) can happen to anyone, it happens more frequently and to a greater extent in the neurodiverse. In fact, up to
5. Getting easily distracted and bored. Many accounting tasks like data entry, reconciliations, and reviewing financial statements are repetitive and monotonous. Unfortunately, this is a problem with ADHD accountants as they find such tasks boring and struggle to stay on track.
Anton Lewis, an associate accounting professor with ADHD, shared his experience in a piece titled “The Divergent Accountant,” writing, “Having been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, inattentive type, much later in life explains why my attention to detail often floundered when it came to long, dull, repetitive jobs, typical but necessary of some accounting tasks.”
This trait leads to issues with completing routine but essential accounting tasks.
These challenges can significantly impact the job performance and overall well-being of accountants with ADHD. However, with the right strategies and support, it’s possible to overcome these obstacles and succeed in the accounting profession.
Tips for ADHD accountants
Here are some tips to help you navigate your role as an accountant working with ADHD.
1. Planning and organization. Accountants and bookkeepers need to plan and organize to avoid mistakes, finish work on time, and keep clients happy. With ADHD, organization becomes difficult but not impossible, if you do the following:
- Use mind maps and to-do lists with deadlines: Mind maps and to-do lists can help visualize tasks and deadlines. Mind maps allow for a broader overview of projects, while to-do lists with deadlines provide structure and accountability.
- Break down large projects into smaller, more manageable steps: Large projects can often feel overwhelming and daunting, which is why you should break them down.
According to Jerimya Fox, a licensed professional counselor and a doctor of behavioral health atBanner Behavioral Health Hospital , “Breaking tasks down even further can help you feel more accomplished and the goal more achievable.” - Utilize project management software or apps: These tools can help organize tasks, set reminders, and track progress. Set reminders, create checklists, and use features like color-coding to prioritize tasks.
2. Time management. As explained earlier, people with ADHD experience time distortions, which make them lose track of time and fall behind schedule. You get distracted, and before you know it, the whole day has passed, and you haven’t achieved the tasks you set out to do. But there are ways to combat this. You should:
- Set realistic deadlines and time blocks for tasks: Don’t overestimate your capabilities. Set realistic goals and allocate specific time blocks for your tasks. This will help you manage your time effectively and improve your productivity.
- The Pomodoro Technique: This involves working in focused bursts (usually 25 minutes) followed by short breaks. It can help improve concentration and prevent burnout. If you need a (free) tool to practice the Pomodoro technique, check out
Pomofocus . - Use timers and alarms to stay on track: We’ve already established that you probably experience time faster and don’t perceive time well. So, don’t rely on your intuition to know when to take breaks or transition to another duty. Instead, set timers and alarms to remind you when to start and stop tasks and for upcoming deadlines. Remember, don’t ignore the alarm when it rings. Adhere to it to avoid falling behind.
3. Motivation and engagement. Since accounting tasks can be repetitive, those with ADHD need to find ways to stay engaged and motivated. Here are some strategies for that:
- Gamification techniques: Turning work into a game can make it more enjoyable and motivating. (One
paper shows that gamified intervention positively impacts people with ADHD). So, use reward systems like treating yourself — no matter how small the reward — after completing a task, or progress trackers to visualize your accomplishments. - Identify and leverage your strengths: Instead of bemoaning the weaknesses of being an accountant with ADHD, you should lean into your strengths and superpower(s). For Andy Muckett, a chartered tax adviser at AKM Accounting Solutions, his ADHD
makes him detail-oriented . It also helps him see the things others don’t, think methodically and practically, identify issues others would easily overlook, and spot opportunities that others wouldn’t have considered. In essence, find your strengths and double down on them. This will make you more engaged and productive in your work.
- Take breaks and walk around: Short breaks and physical activity (like a brief walk) can help improve focus and reduce boredom. Fidget toys can also help manage restlessness and help you stay engaged during tasks that require prolonged concentration.
4. Collaboration and communication. You’ll often need to work with colleagues, managers, and clients. This means you need great communication and collaboration skills. This might not be your forte, but here are a few things that can help.
- Communication strategies for expressing needs and requesting accommodations: First, be open and honest about your disorder and your challenges. Articulate your needs and explain how certain accommodations, like a quiet workspace and certain productivity tools, can help you succeed. Use written communication to document your request and avoid misunderstandings.
- Tools for staying on track during meetings: If you tend to zone out, use note-taking apps to capture important information. Also, set reminders for any action items or deadlines discussed to ensure you follow through.
- Techniques for managing social interactions: When in social settings, actively listen and avoid interrupting who you’re conversing with. Manage your impulsivity by pausing before responding. Additionally, you can ask clarifying questions to ensure you understand the conversation.
5. Managing sensory overload. To cope with overstimulation, you should:
- Adjust workspace lighting and temperature for comfort: Excessive noise, bright lights, or uncomfortable temperatures can contribute to sensory overload. So, experiment with different lighting levels and temperature settings to find what works best for you.
- Take breaks to get fresh air and sunlight: Spending time outdoors — even a short walk — can help reduce sensory overload, improve mood, and increase energy levels.
- Use noise-canceling headphones or earplugs: Excessive noise can be overwhelming. However, noise-canceling headphones or earplugs can help block out noise and create a calmer work environment. You can also play soothing white noise to improve your focus.
For more, see this list of
Yulia Furman – stock.adobe.com
The ADHD Accountant’s Toolkit
Here’s a recommendation of books, templates and courses to help you thrive as an ADHD accountant.
- ADHD books (and workbooks)
- Forms, checklists and tools
- ADHD courses for managing ADHD at work
4. ADHD profiles and success stories
1. “
2. “
Final thoughts
If there’s one thing to take away from this piece, it’s this: ADHD is a neurological condition, not a weakness. With the right strategies (like those outlined in this piece) and support from managers/employers, accountants with ADHD can channel their strengths to become invaluable assets to their firms and clients.
However, you should note that this toolkit is just the starting point. Each individual’s experience with ADHD is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. So, it’s essential to experiment with different strategies and find what works best for you.
If you’re struggling to manage your ADHD symptoms, seek help from a qualified mental health professional or ADHD coach.
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board is proposing to tailor some of its standards to align with recent additions to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants when it comes to using the work of an external expert.
The
- ISA 620, Using the Work of an Auditor’s Expert;
- ISRE 2400 (Revised), Engagements to Review Historical Financial Statements;
- ISAE 3000 (Revised), Assurance Engagements Other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information;
- ISRS 4400 (Revised), Agreed-upon Procedures Engagements.
The IAASB is asking for comments via a digital response template that can be found on the
In December 2023, the IESBA approved an exposure draft for proposed revisions to the IESBA’s Code of Ethics related to using the work of an external expert. The proposals included three new sections to the Code of Ethics, including provisions for professional accountants in public practice; professional accountants in business and sustainability assurance practitioners. The IESBA approved the provisions on using the work of an external expert at its December 2024 meeting, establishing an ethical framework to guide accountants and sustainability assurance practitioners in evaluating whether an external expert has the necessary competence, capabilities and objectivity to use their work, as well as provisions on applying the Ethics Code’s conceptual framework when using the work of an outside expert.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs would effectively cause a tax increase for low-income families that is more than three times higher than what wealthier Americans would pay, according to an
The report from the progressive think tank outlined the outcomes for Americans of all backgrounds if the tariffs currently in effect remain in place next year. Those making $28,600 or less would have to spend 6.2% more of their income due to higher prices, while the richest Americans with income of at least $914,900 are expected to spend 1.7% more. Middle-income families making between $55,100 and $94,100 would pay 5% more of their earnings.
Trump has
Economists have warned that costs from tariff increases would ultimately be passed on to U.S. consumers. And while prices will rise for everyone, lower-income families are expected to lose a larger portion of their budgets because they tend to spend more of their earnings on goods, including food and other necessities, compared to wealthier individuals.
Food prices could rise by 2.6% in the short run due to tariffs, according to an
The Yale Budget Lab projected that the tariffs would result in a loss of $4,700 a year on average for American households.
Artificial intelligence is just getting started in the accounting world, but it is already helping firms like technology specialist
Schellman CEO Avani Desai said there have definitely been some shifts in headcount at the Top 100 Firm, though she stressed it was nothing dramatic, as it mostly reflects natural attrition combined with being more selective with hiring. She said the firm has already made an internal decision to not reduce headcount in force, as that just indicates they didn’t hire properly the first time.
“It hasn’t been about reducing roles but evolving how we do work, so there wasn’t one specific date where we ‘started’ the reduction. It’s been more case by case. We’ve held back on refilling certain roles when we saw opportunities to streamline, especially with the use of new technologies like AI,” she said.
One area where the firm has found such opportunities has been in the testing of certain cybersecurity controls, particularly within the SOC framework. The firm examined all the controls it tests on the service side and asked which ones require human judgment or deep expertise. The answer was a lot of them. But for the ones that don’t, AI algorithms have been able to significantly lighten the load.
“[If] we don’t refill a role, it’s because the need actually has changed, or the process has improved so significantly [that] the workload is lighter or shared across the smarter system. So that’s what’s happening,” said Desai.
Outside of client services like SOC control testing and reporting, the firm has found efficiencies in administrative functions as well as certain internal operational processes. On the latter point, Desai noted that Schellman’s engineers, including the chief information officer, have been using AI to help develop code, which means they’re not relying as much on outside expertise on the internal service delivery side of things. There are still people in the development process, but their roles are changing: They’re writing less code, and doing more reviewing of code before it gets pushed into production, saving time and creating efficiencies.
“The best way for me to say this is, to us, this has been intentional. We paused hiring in a few areas where we saw overlaps, where technology was really working,” said Desai.
However, even in an age awash with AI, Schellman acknowledges there are certain jobs that need a human, at least for now. For example, the firm does assessments for the FedRAMP program, which is needed for cloud service providers to contract with certain government agencies. These assessments, even in the most stable of times, can be long and complex engagements, to say nothing of the less predictable nature of the current government. As such, it does not make as much sense to reduce human staff in this area.
“The way it is right now for us to do FedRAMP engagements, it’s a very manual process. There’s a lot of back and forth between us and a third party, the government, and we don’t see a lot of overall application or technology help… We’re in the federal space and you can imagine, [with] what’s going on right now, there’s a big changing market condition for clients and their pricing pressure,” said Desai.
As Schellman reduces staff levels in some places, it is increasing them in others. Desai said the firm is actively hiring in certain areas. In particular, it’s adding staff in technical cybersecurity (e.g., penetration testers), the aforementioned FedRAMP engagements, AI assessment (in line with recently becoming an ISO 42001 certification body) and in some client-facing roles like marketing and sales.
“So, to me, this isn’t about doing more with less … It’s about doing more of the right things with the right people,” said Desai.
While these moves have resulted in savings, she said that was never really the point, so whatever the firm has saved from staffing efficiencies it has reinvested in its tech stack to build its service line further. When asked for an example, she said the firm would like to focus more on penetration testing by building a SaaS tool for it. While Schellman has a proof of concept developed, she noted it would take a lot of money and time to deploy a full solution — both of which the firm now has more of because of its efficiency moves.
“What is the ‘why’ behind these decisions? The ‘why’ for us isn’t what I think you traditionally see, which is ‘We need to get profitability high. We need to have less people do more things.’ That’s not what it is like,” said Desai. “I want to be able to focus on quality. And the only way I think I can focus on quality is if my people are not focusing on things that don’t matter … I feel like I’m in a much better place because the smart people that I’ve hired are working on the riskiest and most complicated things.”
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