Several sessions at Accountex looked at the human side of accountancy– particularly the experiences of millennials and women in the industry, and how the world of work is changing for them, and being changed by them
Can women have it all? In a roundtable and panel discussion women across the industry discussed their experiences of gender parity, the gender pay gap, support in returning to work after maternity leave, and the difficulties in maintaining a work / life balance.
Our salary survey revealed a 22% gender pay gap in the accountancy profession, higher than the national average, which suggests that there is more work to be done to achieve gender parity at the highest levels of the financial services sector.
The roundtable discussion comprised of women of all ages, at all stages of their career – from those in education and starting their career, to those coming back into the workplace after having children, to more experienced women who have left practice to become professors.
Comparing the experiences of women entering the workplace now versus decades ago revealed the ways in which the industry has changed, and also exposed universal issues that continue to plague women today.
It was discussed how not too long ago it was common for women to be asked whether they planned to have children during a job interview, and be judged accordingly. A lot of the roundtable attendees who were mothers described their anxieties around re-entering the workforce after a period of maternity leave, and had vastly differing views on the levels of support they were given by their organisation – some praising their organisations for being extremely flexible and supportive, others feeling more on their own.
Related Content Some women also recalled a time where they were not permitted to wear trousers to work. While that seems like a far cry from what the workplace looks like for women today, as recently as 2015 PwC sent a female employee home for not wearing heels. This goes to show that although we have come a long way, there is still more work to be done.
- Business Six
Key A lot of the issues discussed applied to women across the spectrum – striving for equality and respect in
Takerway the workplace while juggling feelings of “guilt”, which was described as a very “female” feeling. This guilt
from applied to not spending enough time with their children, or elderly parents, and struggling to justify
Accountext 2018 making time for themselves to unwind.
- Career Women
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Anna Anecdotally, it seemed that women are more likely to start their own practices than men, after being
Anthony unsatisfied with their traditional workplace environments. Often these practices are set up while
Ey, on simultaneously holding down a regular job, and women discussed their trepidation in taking a leap of
Here faith and quitting their day job to fully invest their time into their own business.
Career
Gender The biggest takeaway was that no two women have had the same experience, and that supporting one
Pay gap another- through mentorships, role models – is key.
and the
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Industry Millennials
- Career Salary
2018 key accountants, and revealed how differently millennials work – the world of work is changing for them, and
trends being changed by them.
The panel, comprising of entrepreneurial millennials who had started their own firms, said harnessing technology was key to the way they work, and some described how they chose to start their own businesses after feeling a resistance to technology from their more traditional employers. While touting the benefits of various technologies and apps, it was stressed that millennials should still master the spreadsheet before moving to the app.
The roundtable discussion and panel session highlighted how millennials have different priorities in the workplace to their predecessors, particularly valuing personal development and autonomy in the workplace.