Despite the attractions of the job, the research from TaxScouts to coincide with International Women’s Day, found that nearly half (47%) of respondents felt that their career progression opportunities had not been equal to their male colleagues.

Although almost three quarters (71%) said representation and inclusion had improved over recent years, a similar number also felt there was still a long way to go.

Svetlana Makusheva, audit and accounts senior at TaxScouts said: ‘I agree that representation of women in the accounting industry has improved in recent years.

‘When I first started out in the sector, it felt like a very male dominated space and I was lacking a strong community of women who were in similar roles to me that I could turn to for advice and guidance. 

‘However, I also agree that even though improvements have been made, there are still things that can be done to enhance this even further.

‘For me, a big part of the solution is ensuring clear advancement pathways are visible to women, and that leadership teams provide tailored support to their female employees so they can reach their goals.’

There are very few women in the top roles at accountancy firms. Natasha Frangos is bucking trend as managing partner of haysmacintyre, who agreed that there has been progress but is just too slow.

‘The progress made is commendable but there is still so much more to be done,’ said Frangos. ‘Representation of women at senior leadership levels remains too low and even for those like me who do secure top positions, challenges persist.

‘There have been too many occasions during my 20 plus years career where I have felt the difference of being a woman in a way I shouldn’t have, either through an interaction, a comment or judgment being made, including instances where new acquaintances assume that I am not in a leadership or fee earning role, which mirrors the experiences of other female business leaders I speak to.’

Additional research by accountants charity caba found that 62% of women chartered accountants felt they have been affected by feelings of self-doubt about being able to perform in their jobs.

The feeling of always having to be seen as perfect hindered 29%, with 26% being afraid of failure. One in four (27%) also said they experienced higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Some 80% of the 200 women surveyed by caba said they felt the need to work harder than colleagues to prove their value, and the same shared that they regularly sought approval when making decisions.

Rachel Harris, accountant, and founder of the Accountant_she community, said: ‘When I first started my career as an accountant, I remember being told that I had “too much personality”. 

‘I struggled to fit into the mould of how an accountant was supposed to look and behave, and this led to feeling that I didn’t belong. I witnessed women around me trying to blend into the status quo, even taking off their wedding rings during interviews.’

Ola Opoosun, head of support services at caba said: ‘The findings show that there are still significant challenges to overcome if the industry is to become a truly inclusive space for women. 

‘Many female chartered accountants are struggling with a lack of confidence in their role and this, in addition to other factors such as gender bias and a lack of representation at a senior level, is stopping them from reaching their full potential.’

Grant Thornton’s Annual Women in Business report found that the number of women in senior management roles in the UK has improved over 20 years but was still a long way off target.

Data compiled over 20 years by Grant Thornton has found women in senior management roles in mid-market organisations have increased to 34% in the UK in 2024, compared with just 18% in 2004. The global average is 33% with Japan sitting at the bottom at 19%, equivalent to where the UK was 20 years ago.

The Philippines had the highest figure at 43% out of the 18 countries analysed, followed by Australia with 40%, which had a steep shift from 2019 to the present day.

Claims.co.uk analysed data from the World Economic Forum (WEF) which gave scores out of 100 taking into account income, women in parliament and opportunities presented to women for career advancement.

Iceland is leading on this with a score of 86.49, followed by Finland at 81.72 and Norway at 68.97. The parliament in Iceland consists of 47.6% women and was one of the first countries to appoint a female leader in 1978.

The UK stands at 13th in this list, with a score of 52.08 out of 100. Only 34% of MPs are women and 29% of peers are women. Labour has 52% women MPs compared with only 25% for the Conservatives.

More women needed at the top of accountancy firms – Natasha Frangos