47% of female accountants say men have better career progression

Almost half (47%) of female accountants feel they have not received the same career advancement as their male colleagues, according to a poll from TaxScouts.

Despite this, 71% of respondents said that they believed female representation and inclusion in the space has improved somewhat in recent years.

Furthermore, 88% of people surveyed said they believe that accounting is an attractive career choice for women.

Almost 90% 0of those who said this stated that it was down to increased flexibility in the industry while 47% put it down to increased hybrid and remote working.

As for what could improve this, 41% pointed to greater visibility of senior women in the industry while 29% said better pay transparency and help with childcare.

Malcolm Cowley, CEO at TaxScouts said: “It’s encouraging to hear that many of the female accounts from our network believe improvements have been made when it comes to gender inclusivity in the industry. Having seen firsthand the amazing work they achieve – I know they are a credit to the sector, and recruiting more female talent into the space should be a top priority.

“By embracing flexible working conditions, promoting transparent career progression, and elevating the visibility of female role models, we can begin to rectify the imbalance and pave the way for a more equitable and diverse industry.”

Sadia Nadeem, CIMA qualified accountant at The Sigma Company and TaxScouts, added: “I wholeheartedly agree that seeing more successful female accountants, particularly in senior roles, is a great way to motivate and inspire other women in the industry.

“Positive role models can be transformative in helping to level the playing field for women, and I think there is a critical role for female mentors to play in inspiring the next wave of women in accounting.”