Keeping Women At Work: A Case Study In Public Accounting

Women entered the accounting workforce over 200 years ago. Yet in the modern day, women are still facing barriers that keep them from advancing as quickly as their male counterparts. This case study explores the history of women in accounting and barriers they have faced over time. Further, this paper examines how past barriers compare to those women face today. Looking specifically at one large accounting firm I examined the business resource group that was created to help retain and promote women within the firm by surveying over one hundred female participants at the Charlotte location. The survey takes a closer look at how the female participants are responding to the program and how they personally rate the core areas of focus within the group. Overall, it appears that the group is partially helping to promote and advance women in the firm. More feedback needs to be undertaken in order to improve the business resource group practices and to advance women in their careers while promoting further diversity within the firm.