Even amid talent shortages and conversations about a four-day working week, accountants do not feel that their employers are supporting their worklife balance, according to a survey by the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA).

Half of accountants said they were overworked and were working 41 or more hours a week, while 12% said they put in over 50 hours.

There was also a gulf between the proportion of workers with access to hybrid work and those who were office based, with 28% working on a hybrid model, compared with 59% who would prefer to but do not have the option.

Work was also spilling into personal time with 29% of respondents frequently or always working at weekends.

One in four said it was difficult to switch off from work outside of office hours, while nearly a third (29%) said they struggled to take time off for holidays.