I am the director of Operations at Clear House Accountants. I am also a mother of two children, a toddler and an infant.
One of the questions I have been asked a lot during my career is how being a mother has impacted my passion for accounting. This question is inherently biased. If I were a man, this wouldnโt be asked of me.ย
Being a mother isnโt something that shifts your focus from your career, it adds more to your priorities. How that affects your career is something that is dependent on different factors for everyone.
What factors do you think may affect a woman’s progression in the accounting industry?
Over the years, workplace culture has improved and has become more inclusive for women to progress within the industry. However, we still have a long way to go as the number of women in senior positions is greatly disproportionate to the number of women in junior roles.
One of the biggest challenges that hinder women from progressing to senior roles in the industry is balancing home and work life. Primary care of children still falls upon women. Due to the rising cost of childcare, a lot of times women put a hold on their careers to raise children which in return stagnates their careers.
Have you experienced any change for women in the accounting industry or not?
Changes in the accounting industry have been slow during my career, so far. However, due to Covid-19, there has been a massive shift to remote working. This is something that really helps me personally as I can manage my team remotely.
How can firms support women in the accounting industry?
The issues women face are not just specific to the accounting industry. They are societal issues that need to be addressed across the board. However, at an industry level, we need to be more inclusive and put vigilant policies in place so women do not fall through the cracks and hinder their progression. This is something I see that a lot of firms have started doing, however, we all need to stay vigilant and keep amending policies so they adapt to everyone’s needs.
How do you perceive the future of women in the accounting industry, and what role are you willing to play in this regard?
The future of women is bright. As more awareness is raised, firms across the board are trying to adapt and implement policies to promote women in the industry. Apart from actively developing inclusive policies, I am a great believer in mentorship. I would love to mentor more women in the industry and help them navigate through the challenges of their careers.
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