Voices

African Americans need development, support to improve accounting presence

The Center for Accounting Education at the Howard University School of Business released a report about the long struggle to promote and retain African Americans in the accounting profession.

The report, Upward Mobility and Retention of African Americans within the Accounting Profession, covers the problems and solutions discussed during a profession-wide symposium last December by the CAE.

 “There are no magic bullets – no simple solutions that will quickly expand the presence of African Americans in public accounting or elevate substantial numbers to the partnership level,” the report states.

Instead, the report emphasizes personal responsibility and ways to increase the profession’s appeal to the demographic.

“This report shows that it will take a renewed long-term commitment by individuals and firms to keep working toward the goal until it is achieved,” said CAE Director Frank K. Ross, in a statement. “African Americans must commit to developing the essential technical and soft skills to succeed, and firms must make an equal commitment to surround young African Americans with the support systems necessary for them to show their abilities and move up.”

Other solutions presented by the report include recruiting African Americans through new campaigns that counteract the profession’s “invisible” or “not cool” image in mainstream media and retention through mentoring programs and more work-life balance.

CAE is sponsored by national accounting firms and professional organizations as a body to raise awareness and address the lack of minorities in the accounting profession.

For more information about CAE and the report, visit www.howardcae.org.

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