From pioneers to parity: 100 years of women in ICAEW

As the centenary of the first woman to be admitted to ICAEW approaches, there is undoubtedly much to celebrate about the huge strides towards gender equality that have been taken across accountancy in the past 100 years. Today, women make up almost half of those studying for an accountancy qualification worldwide. It’s a statistic that speaks volumes about the appeal of the accountancy qualification for women.

“This anniversary should be celebrated and used as an opportunity to take stock of the progress made,” says Brenda Trenowden, PwC Partner and global chair of the 30% Club. “There’s no doubt the women who fought their way into the profession a century ago would have worked harder and sacrificed more than their male peers, and these early pioneers should be celebrated.”

It’s also important to remember the forward-thinking male colleagues who provided sponsorship and opened doors, Trenowden says. Fortunately these days we have many more trailblazers and advocates. “Companies now realise that everyone has a role to play in driving equality and inclusion and that it’s critical for business success. The appearance of so many accountancy firms in lists highlighting the best employers for women is a testament to the culture shift happening in our industry.”

Read the full article on ICAEW.