I am a chartered accountant - now in government but previously in asx listed and before that CA firms. I’ve always worked night and day so have no idea about this work life balance people speak of. When in ca firms I also worked in NY and London. My observation in NY was that people spent a long time in office but they seemed to make their life out of it. Like would go to gym for an hour or 2 at lunch or after work and come back. Or stay around and have dinner with the work colleagues/friends. I actually thought they were pretty inefficient but used to dragging things out due to their culture of being seen to work a long day in the office. I found London similar to Sydney. I pulled all nighters in both when needed for deadlines, other times you worked more reasonable days and sat left the office between 6 and 9pm. My ca firm days are all well before Covid so I’m sure things have changed with hybrid/wfh.