Accountants based in Wales statistically have the best work/life balance of the UK profession, according to research from Marks Sattin.
The accounting recruiters studied the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics and, based on indexed scoring of average salaries, commuting time, house prices and hours worked, Welsh accountants enjoyed the highest quality of living standards.
Dave Way, managing director of Marks Sattin said: 'While many finance professions are very London centric, three quarters of accountants live outside the capital. Accountancy is such a universal business requirement that accountants can pick where they live to best suit their own lifestyle and ambition. While many younger accountants head to the bright lights of the City, the more experienced accountant can find they don't have to sacrifice a good salary or chances of progression if they don't live in London.'
According to the statistics, the accounting profession's Welsh contingent were only seventh (out of 12 UK regions) for average pay - with £33, 128 - but had the shortest journey to work, worked on average just 34.7 hours a week and local house prices were only five times more than wages.
Followed closely behind in the overall rankings were the East Midlands and North East in second and third respectively, while London was way down in tenth, with the English capital's house prices and commutes both scoring badly.
London did however have the best salaries at almost £8,000 above the national average.
The research also compared and contrasted the work/life balance of accountants in Ireland, with those in the UK and found the Limerick isle's profession worked a 42 hour week on average - seven hours more than their British counterparts - but took home salaries of €54,695 (£43,403) and had the availability of affordable housing (4.3 times that of salary).
Dan McKeown, associate director of Marks Sattin Ireland said: 'In Ireland accountants are much sought after, particularly fund accountants who benefit from Ireland's status as a tax haven. There is a shortage of talent due to skilled migration to the UK and Australia, meaning while accountants have to work much longer hours, they can command higher salaries than many of their UK counterparts.'