Gender disparity in the accounting sector

Despite efforts from many firms and organisations to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the accounting and auditing sectors remain significantly male-dominated, particularly in leadership roles.

According to Accountancy Age’s 2024 50+50 Accountancy Firms, female leadership in the sector fell by 20% despite an overall rise in partner diversity. Although there has been more investment in DEI initiatives to close disparities between the proportion of male and female accounting leaders, they still exist.

Championing female leadership

At DSG, we make a conscious effort to ensure that women have equal access to leadership opportunities alongside their male counterparts. Currently, 60% of our employees are women, and almost half (48%) of managerial positions are held by women.

It's vital for accountancy firms to create inclusive environments where women are given opportunities that traditionally went to men. We do this by leading from the front and ensuring that women have the skills, knowledge and support to succeed in their roles.

Flexibility is also key for women, especially those returning to the workforce after starting or having a family. This was key for me, when coming back into the workforce and I want to lead by example – it’s about forging positive visibility for women in the workplace. I’m dedicated to ensuring that we continue to champion women’s development and inspire those that are interested in starting their accounting and auditing careers here.

The role of education in shaping career perceptions from a young age

Although the opportunities that women have access to in their workplaces – be that in the accounting sector or otherwise – are crucial for closing the gender equality gap, I believe that women’s goals and their perceptions of what they can achieve in their careers are also shaped by their early experiences in school and growing up. There is still a lot of work to be done to help young women and girls see that there are career options for them in STEM subjects and their related industries. Representation goes a long way in inspiring young women and girls to explore all types of career paths and follow their interests and passions.

It’s important for female business leaders to find opportunities to engage with the young women and show them that there is ample opportunity for them to progress and become leaders themselves.

#AccelerateAction – taking the right steps to improve gender equality

This International Women’s Day’s theme was #AccelerateAction. For the financial and professional services sectors, it is a call for us to go one step further than simply acknowledging that inequalities still exist but take proactive steps towards eliminating them. This means moving away from token gestures and working towards achieving real change. This could include offering leadership training, mentoring programmes, and equal access to promotions and decision-making roles.

By ensuring that women have the tools, resources and opportunities they need to succeed, that firms can play a significant role in shifting the industry landscape.

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