Finance directors and chief financial officers are working through almost a third of a typical five-day holiday, according to a survey by FD Recruit. Respondents reported doing around one and a half days’ work during a five-day break.
The survey found that 35% logged in daily while on holiday, with those working regularly reporting around eight to 12 hours a week. Some 67% had worked during a holiday without ever reclaiming the time.
“The Finance Directors we speak to tell us nobody deputises for them, so they log on from wherever they are. They book the holiday and work through almost a third of it, so they use about two-thirds of what they are owed.”
Phil Scott, FD Recruit
FD Recruit said the findings point to a lack of cover for senior finance responsibilities. Its director Phil Scott said leaders frequently continued to log on because nobody deputised for them.
The issue extends beyond annual leave: 31% of respondents worked more than 45 hours a week. Separately, the recruiter said a quarter of finance directors registered with it wanted part-time work; this relates to its candidate network rather than the holiday survey sample.
For employers, the findings highlight the value of clear delegation, holiday cover and expectations about contact during leave. Booking time off does not necessarily mean an employee gets a complete break from work.
FD Recruit surveyed 320 finance directors and chief financial officers in its network online between April and July 2026. The findings describe that group and are not a census of all UK finance leaders.
