In association management, particularly in the accounting department, busy seasons, tight deadlines, and constant attention to detail make time management one of the most valuable skills for accounting professionals. Whether you’re juggling reconciliations, preparing reports, or responding to last-minute requests, how you structure your day can directly affect both accuracy and stress levels.
Below are some practical tips to manage your time for more efficiency, without burning out.
Start with Priorities, Not Tasks
While the to-do lists for all accounting professionals are endless, not all tasks carry equal weight. A practical tip for effective time management is to begin each day by identifying the following:
- • High-impact tasks (e.g. deadlines)
- • Time-sensitive items (e.g. month-end close)
- • Quick wins (small tasks you can complete in minutes)
By categorizing your daily to-do list, you can identify and focus on your most pressing priorities, ensuring critical work is done. This way, even if your day is interrupted, your most critical tasks will still be completed. If your day manages to unexpectedly open, you also have quick wins you can complete to free up time for later.
Use Time Blocking to Stay Focused
Many studies have shown that context-switching negatively affects one’s workload.
Context-switching refers to moving your attention from one task to another without completing the initial task. Context switching has been found to have many disadvantages, most notably mental fragmentation, reduced productivity and increased errors. These disadvantages can largely be attributed to the loss of focus and attention that occurs when one is taken off one task and the time it takes to redirect oneself and get back on track. Therefore, time blocking is a great way to reduce context switching throughout your day. This can be achieved by grouping similar activities into dedicated time blocks. For example:
- • Morning: Reconciliations and data entry
- • Midday: Meetings and emails
- • Afternoon: Reporting and analysis
While this is just an example of what time blocking may mean to you, the goal is to group your activities into blocks so you can better maintain your focus and accuracy on similar tasks instead of diverting them to unrelated tasks. This reduces context switching, a major drain on productivity and accuracy.
Minimize Interruptions
While Accounting work requires concentration, the same thing can be said for many association management professionals. It has been said that even one hour of deep focus can be more productive than an entire day of fragmented work, as frequent interruptions increase the risk of errors and a loss of focus. A great way to manage interruptions throughout your day is to try:
- • Turning off non-essential notifications
- • Setting “focus hours” where you’re not available for meetings
- • Letting colleagues know when you need uninterrupted time
For many, this may mean turning off work chats, scheduling time in your week for ‘focus hours,’ or sending a message to your colleagues to let them know you will be unavailable for a specific period. Whichever method is available to you, it’s important to take the time to minimize interruptions wherever possible.
Set Realistic Deadlines
A common theme in many accounting roles is overcommitment. It can be hard to be honest about how long tasks take, especially during busy seasons. Therefore, by incorporating the tips below, you can try to be more realistic with your commitments and set realistic deadlines.
Try:
- • Communicating early about workload constraints
- • Negotiate deadlines when possible
- • Build buffer time for unexpected issues
Overcommitting yourself can lead to more than speed in accounting—rushing often leads to rework in the end. By communicating workload constraints, negotiating deadlines and allowing time for unexpected issues to arise, you can ensure you are not overcommitting to work. These tips are not exclusive to accounting staff; they can also be useful for other roles such as volunteer leaders.
Working Smarter Under Pressure
Time management in accounting isn’t about cramming more into your day; it’s about working smarter, protecting your focus, and maintaining accuracy under pressure. By prioritizing effectively, reducing distractions, and using structured workflows, you can handle even the busiest periods with greater control and confidence.
A Fond Farewell and Ongoing Connection with Carmen Rivet
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