Are You Driving Away Female Partners?

Source: Accounting Today

Statistics show that in the near future the majority of new hires at accounting firms will be women. Even if your firm welcomes women as managers and partners, it's important to review your policies and compensation arrangements to be sure they're not sabotaging your efforts.

At one firm, a female partner with school-age children unexpectedly jumped ship in part because her new firm offered a shorter commute. But the firm learned through an exit interview that the partner also negotiated compensation terms that better accommodated her career and family objectives. An analysis of the firm's policies revealed the need for 17 key changes to create a more flexible, inclusive environment. Changes included modifying a prohibition against removing client files from the office and relaxing restrictions on remote IT access.

Policy changes aren't enough, though. To attract and retain female partners and managers, a firm's culture – which starts with the “tone at the top” – must reflect those policies. One of the biggest culprits is compensation. Even if a firm adopts female-friendly policies, a compensation system that values billable hours above all else sends the wrong message.

For the complete article, click here and select the article “Gender-Friendly Partnerships” under Practice Resources in the November 16, 2009, issue.

From Accounting Today, November 16, 2009, SourceMedia Inc., One State Street Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10004, 800-221-1809.