Login
iscover
Three accounting professionals have spoken out about the importance of backing female practitioners to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.
Why accountants should get involved in International Women’s Day
08 March 2022
•
8 minute read
Speaking to Accountants Daily, Kylie Maher, Lana Weldon and Kaisee Chwalko from Moore Australia shared their experiences in accounting, including the challenges they’ve had to overcome as a woman in the profession.
For Ms Chwalko, the stigma of being a “working mother”, as well as being a “part-time worker”, has been one of the primary challenges she’s had to address throughout her career, despite her noting that neither are relevant to her ability in being able to do her job as well as anyone else in the profession.
“Firms can do more to encourage women into roles that allow people to be faced with the clear fact that they need to stop seeing women as any different in their ability, willingness and commitment to create brilliant careers,” Ms Chwalko said.
“Women need to be given the stage to be loud on this issue without any backlash. Women, like men, should be the sum of their work product and this should be evaluated objectively with clear KPIs, not through anecdotal performance reviews or based on the ‘face’ time spent in the office.”
For Ms Maher the challenge of being a woman in accounting has not been felt as much in the profession as it has when dealing with clients.
“Over the years, I have found my workplaces very supportive of work-life balance and the many different family situations. However, when delivering to clients this has been more of a challenge.
“Their deadlines and understanding of your situation as a service provider has not always provided or great mothering or great consulting outcomes. I have found that being open and honest with clients on why I am prioritising family, children or even a break over them has actually been the turning point.”
Ms Weldon acknowledged that the profession “has come leaps and bounds” over the past few decades when it comes to recognising challenges people face, particularly when it comes to parenthood, however flagged it’s important for everyone to contribute to the #BreaktheBias conversation – the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.
“I have first-hand seen the debilitating effects bias and discrimination can have on individuals, communities and society. On the other side, I have seen how even the smallest amount of support or acknowledgement can have major positive impacts on people,” Ms Weldon said.
“I feel extremely lucky that I grew up with a sense of ability and the opportunity to make choices in my life, when so many haven’t. To me, #BreaktheBias is about enabling people to make decisions and providing education to give the opportunity of choice.
“I believe #BreaktheBias is so much wider than just gender. We all have unconscious biases whether they be based on language, culture, age, education, ability or gender. Our profession is so important in terms of protecting the public interest. Therefore raising awareness of any type of bias is definitely in the public interest.”
You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member for free today!
- This article sates that women want to determine their own KPI's, not prioritize their clients etc and then state that there is all this bias against them. If it wasn't for affirmative action,quota laws and policies this would be a joke, unfortunately its making men second class citizens.0
- Women want all these changes and still wish to force their belief of equality on the male counterparts. Your not equal if you want all these special concessions just for you. I know you will force your demands through legislation and lobbying. If you receive equality that way nobody in their right mind will consider you equal. Earn it don't legislate it.0
- The fictitious Gender Bias and the gender pay gap is definitely a weapon for women to use against their employer to have all their narcissistic demands met. However there is definitely a gender bias that impedes men's opportunities, which are becoming less and less as female quotas and affirmative action policies dominate.0
- Reading this article their certainly appears to be gender bias and its in favor of women and makes men 2nd class citizens. ( women want to dictate their own KPI's, not prioritize clients etc). Women don't want equality, they want a free ride and will receive this due to big firms and governments legislating women quotas and affirmative action policies. Men, now is the time to think about going into smaller male dominated firms as your opportunities in the future will be severely impaired due to the gender bias against males.0
- It seems women require all these changes, Less Client face time, Determine their own KPI's etc and at the same time require their employers treat them the same as men, who do not, on the whole, demands this special treatment. Reading this article women do not want equality they want special, preferential treatment and promotions and equal pay as well.0
- If you are equal and require equal pay and promotions why do you expect all these changes just for you. People who are equal become equal by providing an equal service. I guess this is affirmative action in action.0
- In order to be treated equally you must be equal. If you want all these changes and privileges that are just for you, then perhaps you are not behaving in an equal manner.0
- Looking at this paper it appears women require so many changes (less client face time, determine their own KPI's etc) for the privilege of employing them. It seems their is a gender bias and it's in their favor . Males are definitely 3rd class citizens in this country.0
- "“Their deadlines and understanding of your situation as a service provider has not always provided or great mothering or great consulting outcomes."Are you serious. Your personal situation is not your clients issue. Women even want to change clients expectations and not prioritize clients. We certainly live in a world where women have it all. There is definitely gender bias and its against men.0
- My goodness the article says women just want to be assessed in the same manner as males. It then goes on to state women demand less face time in the office, to prescribe the KPI's they want to their employers etc. You want to do less than men but at the same time be paid the same and be top of the queue for senior positions. If it wasn't for affirmative action and quotas I would think this was a joke.0
