Women in Accountancy – Top Tips to Succeed
Women in accountancy have come a long way. At the beginning of the last century, accountancy, like many other professional occupations, was a door that was very firmly closed for women. Change started in 1919, when the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act was passed. This meant that professional bodies could no longer deny entry to women who applied to join. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales saw its first female member admitted in 1920. Her name was Mary Harris and it is widely considered that she paved the way for the many successful women who have since entered the profession.
However, as in many other professions, women can still face challenges when trying to progress in their career. The inevitable pull of responsibilities from outside of work can mean that women take time out or progress at a slower pace than their male counterparts. Some leave the profession entirely, feeling unable to juggle the pressures of a demanding career with family life.
Barrons is a practice firm with an almost 50/50 split of men to women. We also have a number of young female trainees looking to make progress in their accountancy careers. With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at what women can do to make progress in their accountancy careers.
What can women do to succeed in Accountancy?
Connect:
Having people around to support you is vital and this can take a variety of forms. You might look for a mentor or mentors. Having someone to call upon for support and guidance can help when navigating challenges in your role. Mentors can motivate, offer advice and share their experiences to help you in your career. Equally, some women find that networking with other professionals provides encouragement and helps them to develop a support network. You will find common ground with other female accountants, but also amongst other professionals too. Networking can be done face-to-face, but there are equally many industry and professional groups on social media. Professional bodies such as the ICAEW offer opportunities to meet fellow accountants at all levels. Supporting other women is key. Be an advocate for women in accountancy and set out to support women at all levels of the profession. This includes those who you aspire to be like and those who might be inspired by you. Finally, be a team player. Those who take an active role in being part of a team find that when things get tough, the support you get from your colleagues is invaluable.
Culture:
Find the right place to work. Many firms, like Barrons, embrace flexible working, allowing women to juggle their external roles with those at work. This may mean flexibility in working hours/days, location or sharing of roles. Having a great culture at your workplace helps, all staff, but especially women, to achieve work/life balance. Women who feel constantly under pressure and pulled in different directions can end up feeling like they are on the backfoot in all aspects of their life. It’s therefore really important to take time to look after yourself and set boundaries.
Grow:
To progress in your accountancy career, adopt a strategy of continuous learning. Even though you may have finished studying for professional qualifications, there is always space to boost knowledge and learn something new. Keep up to date with the latest innovations/tech, and wherever possible take up opportunities to attend courses and webinars that expand your knowledge and skills. You may consider becoming an expert in a particular area of accountancy or industry. Alternatively, why not become a champion for another aspect of the business such as training or education. Whatever you do, set goals and create a plan for what you want to achieve in your career.
Believe:
Believe in yourself. If you don’t who else will? Both sexes can suffer from imposter syndrome but studies have shown that women are less likely to apply for jobs and promotions if they don’t think they meet all of the criteria for the role. Sometimes, it’s worth taking a risk and adopting a more ‘can do’ attitude. Women can also downplay their achievements and not push themselves forward when opportunities arise to work on new and important projects. When we step out of our comfort zone, we open ourselves up to learn something new and develop our skills and knowledge. We all have unique strengths and as women, stereotypically, we have a different perspective to our male counterparts
Women in Accountancy at Barrons
At Barrons we have an impressive group of women in our team. Their accountancy qualifications include accreditations from the ACCA, CIPP, AAT and Federation of Tax Advisors. Many boast considerable experience gained in prestigious organisations before their arrival at Barrons.
Our Head of HR, Lisa Russell says:
“At Barrons we are lucky to have a highly experienced and professional team, almost half of whom are female. We are nurturing the next generation of talent in both sexes and believe in providing opportunities for growth. We are committed to creating a culture that enables our whole team to thrive. For our female members, this means that they feel that they are treated equally, fairly and able to combine work with the commitments they may have at home”
