Profession marks International Women's Day 2018

As March 8 marks International Women's Day -- a day meant to "celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women," per the event's site -- accounting firms and associations are honoring the occasion with special posts, social media campaigns, and other events.

Here are some of the initiatives the profession are taking part in to honor the day and its message:

ACCA

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is marking International Women’s Day by honoring this year's hashtag "#pressforprogress," which seeks to promote progress on a number of issues ranging from "gender pay parity to equality of opportunity," per a statement from the Association.

"Looking forward, if there’s one area where I wish to see sustained progress, it’s to ensure career ladders breakthrough the glass ceiling for women," stated ACCA chief executive Helen Brand. "Creating the leaders of tomorrow is an ongoing task for firms. The tone clearly has to be set from the top, with a transparent culture that’s committed to diversity. We have to measure this progress too – after all, what’s not measured can’t be managed."

For more on the ACCA's celebration of International Women's Day, head to their site here.

CohnReznick

Top 100 Firm CohnReznick has a stated goal of "100 percent office participation" for International Women’s Day with several initiatives, including asking staff to take the IWD pledge; to share selfies and content on social media using the "#CRWomenCAN" and "#IWD2018" hashtags; and to wear purple clothing to symbolize IWD.

Firm leaders will also share their insights on gender equality on social media, with topics ranging from increasing female leadership to diversity initiatives at the firm.

CohnReznick also plans on creating a “Wall of Progress” at their offices to highlight women's achievements and have staff contribute their ideas for gender equality. Offices will also feature fundraising for local women’s organizations and other nonprofits.

Participating offices include Austin, Texas; Atlanta; Baltimore; Bethesda, Md.; Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chennai, India; Chicago; Eatontown, N.J.; Hartford, Conn.; Long Island, N.Y.; Los Angeles & Woodland Hills, Calif.; New York City; Roseland, N.J.; San Diego; Sacramento, Calif.; Tyson’s Corner, Va.; and White Plains, N.Y.

Deloitte

Deloitte Australia recently posted a short film titled "Many voices, one song," that promotes a "culture of inclusion" at the firm and beyond.

"Being inclusive of all our people, regardless of their sexuality, gender identity or any other form of diversity makes us more unified as a firm so that we can continue to make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, our communities, and society as a whole," the firm wrote on its site. "We believe everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard."

The video and more info can be found on Deloitte's site here.

CPA firm partners by gender

EY

Dan Black, EY's global recruiting leader, wrote a public letter to his ten-year-old daughter to mark International Women's Day, discussing the realities of gender pay gaps, discrimination, and how to respond to these issues in the future.

"What I want to tell you … my angel … my warrior … is that there is every reason to continue to hope and dream and believe in the future," Black wrote. "Whenever you feel like the cards are stacked against you, remember all the role models who have come before you, and all that they have done to create a better tomorrow. You too can make a difference, even in the face of adversity, because you are strong and smart and determined. "

Read the full letter on LinkedIn here.

Grant Thornton

The firm recently published its "Women in business 2018" report, which compiles the findings of "investigating the progress of women in business around the globe for 14 years, exploring how business leaders think and feel, and outlining practical steps that can create change."

"While the number of businesses with at least one woman on their senior leadership team has significantly increased, the proportion of senior roles held by women has marginally declined," the firm wrote. "As a result, businesses are missing out on the benefits of true diversity – critical at a time when every sector is facing disruption."

The firm has also started a discussion on the role of female leadership on social media using the hashtag "#beyondpolicy."

The full report can be found on Grant Thornton's site here.

KPMG

Chairman and CEO Lynne Doughtie shared her thoughts on female leadership and advancement on KPMG's site in a post titled, "Six things companies can do to help women rise to the top."

"Women today account for only 5.2 percent of the CEOs of S&P 500 companies and slightly more than 21 percent of their board seats. Why have these percentages remained virtually unchanged over the past several years? It’s not due to a lack of desire," she wrote. "We have to identify high-potential women by name and strategically map them to those who can help them get to the next level. We have to set goals, measure them and hold leaders accountable."

For the full post, head to KPMG's site here.

PwC

PwC recently published a report titled "Time to talk: What has to change for women at work," examining gender equality in the workplace and how to advance female inclusion. The firm polled 3,627 professional women globally to seek out their opinions and gauge best practices going forward.

"[The report] gives a clear indication of three key essential elements that business leaders must focus on to advance gender equality and help women’s career advancement as they lead their enterprises into the 21st century," the firm wrote. "1. Transparency and trust matter. A lot. 2. Support networks and advocacy go a long way. Women need strategic support. 3. Challenges with balancing life, family care and work. There are grave concerns regarding flexibility and motherhood penalties."

For the full report, head to PwC's site here.

For more on International Women's Day, follow the hashtags #IWD2018 and #PressForProgress on social media.

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Gender issues Diversity and equality Workplace culture
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