Improving the Advancement and Retention of Women CPAs

Fostering Gender Equality at One Accounting Firm

George Qin, CPA, CMA, and Steven Vertucci, CPA

According to the 2017 CPA Firm Gender Study performed by the AICPA's Women's Initiatives Executive Committee (WIEC), women make up only 22% of partners in accounting firms nationwide (http://bit.ly/2DRmj7F). Furthermore, studies indicate that the number of women studying accounting and entering the accounting field is on the rise. Flexibility and public accounting don't always go hand in hand, but joining the two in a thoughtful, constructive, and effective way is advantageous to women. Balancing demanding work schedules with the desire to raise a family gives rise to a common challenge in the accounting world: the retention of women.