International Women’s Day 2023: Women in finance and accounting

We asked four different women who work in the accounting, tax and finance industry within different job roles a few questions about women in the industry. Here’s what they said…

Who did we speak to?

Roxanne Williamson is a Financial Accountant for a food manufacturing company. She oversees Accounts Payable function. Her daily tasks will include bank reconciliations, invoice approvals, payment runs, new supplier verification and checks, cost analysis and other Accounts Payable related duties. She also manages a small team of three women.

Vanessa O’Keefe is an Academic Support Tutor. Her responsibilities primarily consist of helping learners with their technical accountancy-related queries across a range of qualifications.

Rachel Harris is the founder of @accountant_she. Accountant_She is the online platform that she needed while training to become an accountant. As well as this, she is also the director of StriveX Accountants – one of the UK’s fastest scaling accountancy practices. For Rachel, each day will look different, from chatting with prospective clients to finding herself on the ten o’clock news or a podcast, Rachel will still aim to do at least one thing every day which will grow her business. She believes that it’s easy to forget that we don’t do 100% in one day, but 1% every day still gets you closer.

Jordon Wilson is currently studying for her ACCA qualification and has recently been appointed as a Client Support Manager. Her daily tasks include motivating and coaching junior members of her team, building relationships of trust with clients and conducting and supervising audits and accounts

How have you found the representation of women in your industry?

In my current workplace, there is a fairly equal amount of both men and women, although I have found that managers and senior executives have tended to be male. I have been with the company for nine years and have seen several Finance Directors, all of which have been male. Roxanne Williamson, Financial Accountant.

Throughout my career, I have been lucky to encounter a fairly equal representation of women. Having a mix of both male and female colleagues, and role models alike, I have felt inspired and supported to pursue a career in accounting and finance. Vanessa O’Keefe, Academic Support Tutor.

I’ve always found an even split in the industry as a whole but have experienced huge disparity when comparing the industry as a whole compared to women in management positions. That’s a huge reason why I’ve built @accountant_she, to showcase what a female-led practice looks like, the behind-the-scenes and the real-life stories along the way. I feel like when we are younger we can only be what we can see and so if people can’t see women in leadership positions at work, I can show them what it looks like online. Rachel Harris, Founder of Accountant_She.

For me, it’s a bit of a mix. I see some businesses led by all males and some led by all females. Women leaders are just as ambitious as men, but at many companies, they face headwinds that signal it will be harder to advance. Having a fair representation of women in the workplace can have positive outcomes across the organisation. Jordon Wilson, ACCA learner and Client Support Manager.

“When we are younger we can only be what we can see and so if people can’t see women in leadership positions at work,
I can show them what it looks like online.”
Rachel Harris.

Why is it important to see more women in accounting and finance?

I believe there is a certain stigma around Finance and Accounting. Number crunching, computing and little emotion are often considered more traditionally male than female. However, these stereotypes can make it harder for women to take that step in applying for accountancy roles. This problem is intensified by a lack of women in senior accountancy roles. Roxanne Williamson, Financial Accountant.

Different people bring different perspectives, skills and ideas. It is therefore important for all industries to promote diversity in order to tap into a wider range of skills and competencies. However individuals wish to identify themselves, it is important for people to be able to look at a potential career and see a balanced representation of a wide variety of people, to be able to envisage themselves in such roles in future. Vanessa O’Keefe, Academic Support Tutor.

Where do I begin? There are considerable benefits to organisations from having diverse workforces, not just with gender equality but by age, race and socioeconomic background. Rachel Harris, Founder of Accountant_She.

It’s great for women to be on top! It’s really encouraging when you see women in leadership positions as it gives off positive traits showing that women can be successful too. They can have that power and be that female role model that young women need. In theory, these are the next generation of women leaders. Jordon Wilson, ACCA learner and Client Support Manager.

“However individuals wish to identify themselves, it is important for people to be able to look at a potential career and see a balanced representation of a wide variety of people.”
Vanessa O’Keefe.

Do you have any tips for women that want to seek a career in finance?

When I first entered the world of Finance and Accounting I had two small children and I worried about the work/home life balance, especially because I had also just started studying AAT. I believe that many women might have the same concerns such as childcare, maternity leave, flexibility, and the worry of having to compromise family due to work commitments. However, once I established a routine, and became more efficient in my role, it wasn’t as daunting as I initially thought. AAT helped me to move forward in my career, not just in terms of qualifications, but I also found that my confidence grew. Roxanne Williamson, Financial Accountant.

For any woman wanting a career in finance, not only is it important to ensure you develop your financial knowledge and skills and gain useful practical work experience, it is equally important for you to develop your own sense of self-worth. Being confident in your own abilities helps others to see your capabilities much more clearly and often even your further potential. Vanessa O’Keefe, Academic Support Tutor.

Surround yourself with people you look up to. It’s important to build that motivation in your life, and having people you look up to is really important as it can show you what you might be able to achieve. Find a mentor, whether it’s formal or informal, and get someone in your life you can talk to specifically about your career and goals. Asking for help is my top tip, as women, we are often afraid to ask for help. My new year’s resolution for 2023 is to ask for help/advice/guidance or even a favour at every opportunity! Rachel Harris, Founder of Accountant_She.

I always say it’s never too late to start your career, so if you are thinking about it, go for it! I love what I do, and I feel once you are in a career you love, it never feels like work. There are various roles within finance and there is something for everyone. Jordon Wilson, ACCA learner and Client Support Manager.

“AAT helped me to move forward in my career, not just in terms of qualifications, but I also found that my confidence grew”
Roxanne Williamson.

Do you have any tips for women seeking an accounting or financial career path but are concerned that it is male-dominated?

Just go for it! I have worked alongside men and women within accounting and finance and have found that each individual has their personal strengths and weaknesses, not because they are male or female but because we all have different ways of working. Roxanne Williamson, Financial Accountant.

I believe those that enjoy their work, gain satisfaction from completing their daily tasks and have a passion for their career are the lucky few! If you believe that a career in accounting and finance will provide this for you then you should not let anything stand in your way. Even in a male-dominated environment, with the right support from the right employer, you can still enjoy great success. Vanessa O’Keefe, Academic Support Tutor.

Again, role models are really important here. I built my business because I couldn’t see what a female-owned practice looked like. Consume all of the content and then ask questions! I have hours of ‘Day in the life’ content on my YouTube channel which I created because I was desperate to see it when I was training. Rachel Harris, Founder of Accountant_She.

I’d say if you have a passion for accounting and finance, don’t let anything get in your way. The only way we can have gender diversity in the workplace is if more women act on their passion for this career. We make a difference by being role models for clients, colleagues and the women of the future. Jordon Wilson, ACCA learner and Client Support Manager.

“The only way we can have gender diversity in the workplace is if more women act on their passion for this career.”
Jordon Wilson.

Step into your dream career

The accounting, tax and finance industry is suitable for anyone who is interested and works hard enough. No matter what your identity is, don’t let any preconceptions or stereotypes get in the way of what you want to achieve.

If you’re interested in starting your new career journey, take a look at our AAT subscription courses.

Our team is also happy to discuss any questions that you may have.