Research* into senior finance professionals across the UK, set out to understand their perspectives and experience of job sharing as a form of flexible working. The survey of 100 CFOs and FDs sought to provide insights into their opinions of job sharing, shedding light on its prevalence as well as the perceived benefits, risks and barriers to adoption.

Benefits to businesses

When considering the benefits that job sharing brings to a business, 67% of CFOs and FDs stated that it encourages collaborative decision making, with a further 58% agreeing that job sharing offers more opportunities for employment and attracts candidates who may not otherwise apply for a full-time role.

Over half (56%) of finance leaders also felt that job sharing enhances continuity in roles by enabling smoother coverage during holidays or illness, with 55% agreeing that the structure supports diversity and inclusion goals in senior leadership. Another business benefit mentioned by 43% of respondents was that job sharing brings two perspectives and skill sets for one role.

 Benefits for employees

When asked what they considered the benefits of job sharing to be from an employee perspective, the senior financial leaders surveyed believed the top benefits included: improving work-life balance (65%), reducing burnout in high pressure roles (61%), and allowing people to pursue other passions or interests in addition to their role (57%).

The ability to reduce burnout in high pressure roles is a key concern for many senior leaders, with 54% of CFOs stating that they experience burnout due to work at least once a week, with 9% experiencing burnout daily. This figure was even higher when asked how often they felt overwhelmed with stress due to work. 63% of financial leaders experience this at least once a week, with 13% suffering daily.

 Despite benefits to both employers and employees being recognised, only 26% of the CFOs and FDs surveyed listed job sharing as a type of flexible working that their company supports. This is compared to 70% who stated that remote/hybrid working is an option provided by their company.

Owen Myers, Co-Founder of Mackie Myers said: “The world of work is changing, and organisations have a responsibility and an opportunity to rethink how we structure both teams and roles to meet the evolving needs of our people, our clients and our businesses. Job sharing should be part of this conversation. Yet despite the many advantages it brings, it remains relatively under-utilised – especially in the private sector.”

Barriers to adoption

For 44% of CFOs, the biggest barrier to adoption of job sharing was potential issues over equal workload. Another top concern, listed by 39% of respondents, was the complexities in pay and benefits that arise when splitting a role. A further 37% felt that there is a perception in their business that senior roles must be full-time.

 The research forms part of Mackie Myers’ new job sharing report, Rethinking Roles: Unlocking Potential with Job Sharing, which has also launched today.

 The report brings together data, lived experiences, and fresh insights to better understand the role that job sharing could – and should – play in the future of work, exploring current trends, benefits, and the myths and misperceptions that surround the structure. It also includes a case study from a successful senior job share partnership within UCL’s finance team.

Owen added: “Our aim is not just to shed light on the challenges, but to highlight the benefits of job sharing, providing a blueprint for success. We hope that this report will prompt meaningful conversations and, more importantly, drive action towards more inclusive, adaptable ways of working that reflect and support the evolving needs of the modern workforce.”

*Research from Mackie Myers