Women Not Moving Up and Not Staying

Source: Accounting Today

There are 108,000 women CPAs, up from 2,000 in 1972, but they aren’t moving up in firms commensurately with those numbers. The AICPA is researching why women aren’t striving for partnership. Family responsibilities is an obvious answer.

But discrimination, especially when women are nearing partnership status, may also be a factor. This inequality shows up in mentoring programs, invitations to client dinners, participation on state society committees, etc. This is especially problematic at older firms that don’t understand the importance of flexibility for women. Women are also interested in networking opportunities, both inside and outside the firm. Some firms have developed educational programs for women in how to network and how to develop “executive presence.”

Firms are facing staff shortages and must keep women from leaving, and men must help. Younger women need other women to be role models. The absence of female role models and the dearth of programs (including flexible hours) for mothers is leading to departure of women from CPA firms.

The AICPA’s Guide to Building a Successful Off-Ramping Program claims that 37 percent of women will temporarily or permanently leave their jobs, 93 percent will return within about two years, but only five percent will return to their original companies.

Firms are beginning to adopt flexible work/life programs and are allowing staff (men and women) to have more control over when, where, and how they work. People can also help design their own career paths, abandoning the traditional vertical ladder.

Resources for improving the status of women include:

• The aforementioned AICPA guide.
• The American Women’s Society of CPAs is considering new technology to help women and is presenting related conferences. www.awscpa.org.
• The American Society of Women Accountants is participating in an AWSCPA conference and seeking to help women through leadership, networking, and education. It offers monthly Internet-based “techcasts,” a listserv, e-mail group, and online membership directory. www.aswa.org.
• The first Forum for Women in Accounting was held in April. Visit The Advisory Board, Crosley+Company, LLC, and The American Women's Society of CPAs.
• The California Society of CPAs presented its Young and Emerging Professionals Conference in May. About half the 600 participants were women.

From Accounting Today, October 8, 2007, SourceMedia Inc., One State Street Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10004, 800-221-1809. For the complete article, click here.