As we step into a new year, it’s natural to pause and reflect on what truly matters—both in our work and in our personal lives. At Shorts, we see this moment as more than just setting new business goals; it’s an opportunity to rethink how work and life fit together for everyone on our team.
We believe that great work shouldn’t come at the cost of wellbeing. That’s why we’ve created an environment where technical challenges and career development go hand in hand with genuine flexibility and balance. Our people enjoy work that is interesting, complex, and rewarding—work that builds skills and opens doors for growth. But just as importantly, they have the freedom to manage life’s priorities without guilt or red tape.
When work-life balance is truly lived—not just talked about—it becomes the foundation for both wellbeing and high performance. Whether it’s adjusting hours for school runs, working from home when a child is unwell, or taking time for life’s unexpected moments, we empower our team to show up fully at work and at home. It’s a win-win: a culture where ambition and family life can thrive together.
Flexibility for family and life commitments
Flexibility here isn’t just a perk, it’s a practical way to help people manage their family responsibilities and life’s unexpected events. Our team appreciate being able to adjust their daily schedules for school runs, appointments, or simply to be there when their families need them.
“I previously worked somewhere where you were leaving and getting home at six / seven o'clock at night. Having a small child then (and two now), it's true that the core hour policy means you can finish at half four and go home and spend some time with your family. And I think that's almost irreplaceable, really. It means I get to be a proper parent and not just see them at 7:30 at night.”
— James Snipe, Audit and Accounts Senior Manager
“The flexibility of the working hours helps, because people like to avoid traffic in the morning. I can be here before the school run, then I'm leaving before the traffic at five o'clock. So the flexibility of the working hours is much better.”
— Alison Hole, Credit Controller
Real impact on daily life
Flexible working at Shorts isn’t just about convenience - it’s about giving people back valuable time and reducing stress, so they can enjoy life outside of work.
“I definitely noticed a difference in work life balance. I feel like I'm in the office for less hours… it feels like I've got so many more hours to my day than I used to have… I now get home at 5pm versus 7pm so that's easily an extra one to two hours in an evening.”
— Charlotte Spencer, Audit and Accounts Senior Manager
“Shorts has always been a fantastic firm… they've always allowed you to have time off if you needed to be at home if you needed to be at home for any other reason. They'll let you either work from home or just take a couple of hours off just to go home, do what you need to do, come back to work.”
— Anita Purslove, Private Client Accountant
Leadership and personal progression
We believe that every career decision should be full of opportunity and growth, which is why we created clear, structured pathways to help our team progress - outlining the steps which lead to advancement.
Whether our team are looking to sharpen technical skills or develop as a leader, our tailored programs are designed to prepare for what’s next. Our leadership development isn’t just theory - it’s practical, hands-on, and focused on building confidence in managing teams, driving projects, and shaping strategy.
If you’re aiming for your first big promotion or ready to step into a senior role, we’ll provide the tools, mentorship, and real opportunities to make it happen. Start the new year with a career that moves you forward.
“I originally started on reception, and then did a brief span in marketing, and then sort of made the decision that I wanted to be an accountant, and Shorts have helped me achieve that goal. So now I'm a management accountant… they've been quite open about different opportunities and different ways of progressing.”
— Jodie Hague, Management Accountant
Trust and autonomy
Shorts empowers people to manage their own time and workload. There’s a culture of trust, no micromanagement - just support, so that everyone can focus on delivering their best work.
“I've never been micromanaged, and it is fantastic, because we were trusted to do our job. And I think that's a massive thing, that you have that trust, and people put that trust in you.”
— Amanda Griffiths, Senior Receptionist
“The management style at Shorts is unique in my experience, in that it is a friendly and collegiate atmosphere. What I'm more proud of than anything is the fact that I've been able to build a team where I've taken people at school-leaving age, and been able to give them the opportunity to expand and grow and follow their passion. That's been enabled by me getting out of the way and not micromanaging and actually letting them learn through making their own mistakes.”
— Chris Allen, Digital Director
A culture that respects boundaries and wellbeing
At Shorts, respecting personal boundaries and wellbeing is woven into the culture. People are encouraged to switch off, recharge, and set healthy limits between work and home life, without guilt or pressure.
“In my previous role, I was probably doing 50–60 hours a week that ate into my time at home. The positive thing about coming here, I was able to reduce my hours to three days a week. When I'm not at work, I'm not logging in on the days that I'm not working, and I'm actually present and there for my children. One of the partners even said, ‘The reason why you've joined Shorts is that you don't work on your days off. We want you to go home. We want you to switch off. Be present, recharge, and come back feeling ready to go again.’”
— Laura Collins, Talent Acquisition Manager“There’s a real understanding here that home life is just as important as work life. That means you’re trusted to adjust your schedule when you need to—whether it’s for a school run, a doctor’s appointment, or just to handle something unexpected at home. For example, when I needed to work from home one morning at short notice, it wasn’t a problem at all. In fact, my manager encouraged me to take the whole morning at home, so I didn’t have to rush or feel stressed about getting into the office. That kind of support makes it so much easier to balance everything.”
— Lana Reid, Learning and Development Manager
Leading by example
Flexibility at Shorts is championed from the top. Partners and managers model the behaviours they want to see, making it easy for everyone to feel comfortable using the policies in place.
“The flexible working policy, it comes from the partners as well. They've all had instances where they've needed to drop things at a moment's notice, and you see them just go offline and go and sort that. So if it's led from the front, then everyone else feels comfortable and believes in the policy.”
— James Snipe, Audit and Accounts Senior Manager
“For myself, the flexibility has been really incredible in the sense of feeling at ease and not feeling like I have to justify or to try and make up for why I need to go and do a pickup… it’s a trust-based system here. There’s a lot of understanding that home life is just as important as work life.”
— Lana Reid, Learning and Development Manager
Resetting goals: growth, connection, and balance
The new year at Shorts is seen as a chance to reset—not just to chase targets, but to focus on personal growth, meaningful connections, and a sustainable balance.
“I was particularly drawn to Shorts because of its strong emphasis on a positive workplace culture. Since we spend a significant amount of time at work, I wanted to be part of an environment that felt welcoming and supportive and Shorts provided exactly that.”
— Paschal Okonkwo, Tax Compliance Adviser
Conclusion
At Shorts, work-life balance is more than a policy - it’s a lived reality, shaped by trust, flexibility, and a genuine sense of community. As you look to the year ahead, consider what it would mean to work somewhere that values your wellbeing as much as your ambition. If now is the time for you to explore new opportunities, to building a life and a career you love, then visit our careers pages, or register your interest by contacting us via our enquiry form, to start a conversation with Laura Collins.
Laura Collins
As Talent Acquisition Manager, Laura builds lasting relationships, founded on trust, transparency, and open communication, supporting individuals through one of the most important transitions in their professional lives. Laura's role is all about people - understanding, connecting, and helping them find a place where they can truly thrive. She works closely with our team to gain real understanding of what they’re looking for - not just in terms of skills and experience, but also in personality, values, and team fit. Because Laura is based in-house, she knows the people and culture and is able to offer candidates genuine insight into life at Shorts.
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