Juggling Act

When tax season rolls around, tensions rise and stress skyrockets. If you think it was difficult making it through your 2010 season with the hope of not getting audited, imagine the pressure of the accounting professionals who work tirelessly with no play for three solid months.Women’s Post caught up with two young moms and professional chartered accountants, Talia Rubin (Audit and Assurance Manager) and Rachel Rolnick (Taxation Group Manager), of Soberman LLP Chartered Accountants to find out how they made it through scratch-free. Tax season is the time when their work tends to take complete control of their life, but both women were prepared, secure, and ready to tackle motherhood despite the demands they faced.

Rolnick admits that after a year of being home she was ready to go back to work. Luckily for her, she was able to readjust easily because she reentered the workforce on a part-time basis. However, “during the tax season, it probably worked out that I worked full-time with the accumulation of hours.”

Rubin has many years of experience juggling motherhood with her career, so while she has encountered tough situations like missing important milestones in her children’s lives, she has realized, for the most part, she enjoys her profession. She took a brave step and has remained a full-time employee at Soberman, but, “between the late-night feedings, and managing my other children’s homework and activities, there is a lot of juggling involved.”

Organization and support are imperative in remaining successful and committed in such a demanding profession. Rolnick admits that organization has always been a characteristic of hers, even before motherhood. “If you haven’t always been organized, you will probably find that when you have a child your life will be pure chaos. I like things in order and to be all planned.” Both women profess that there is no way they would have made it through tax season without their family. Both Rolnick and Rubin gush about the support of their husbands. “My husband has been amazing. He’s so supportive,” says Rolnick.

Rubin has not only her husband to be grateful for, but her children as well. “Tax season is always difficult, but my husband and children are understanding of the long hours as they know it is only for a short period each year.”

Many people do not believe that a woman can have the best of both worlds: A successful career and a happy home. Rubin offered some advice to those who may share this false belief: “Be good at time management and be organized. As well, you need a good support system because things at home or deadlines at work do come up. It is a real balancing act but the rewards of both are so great that it’s all worth it.”

An important factor that Rolnick acknowledges is, “finding the right firm or company willing to work with you.” She further explains, “you must have proven yourself and know that you put in the hard work necessary to make them want to have you back on any terms after your pregnancy.”

Both Rubin and Rolnick are living proof that with the right company, job, family, and personal dedication you can indeed achieve total success.

Image courtesy stock.xchng.