Flexible thinking redresses accountancy gender imbalance

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland (ICAS) has welcomed initiatives such women being able to participate in assessments for promotion while on maternity leave.

ICAS is keen to see accountancy firms making the effort to redress the gender imbalance in the profession, the Herald has reported.

Isobel Sharp, president of ICAS and a partner at Deloitte has said that flexible thinking that addresses the needs of women is essential.

Ms Sharp said: "We have to get across the message that having children is not in any way a disadvantage."

Research recently conducted for ICAS revealed that there is still a glass ceiling in the profession, with women accounting for just 13 per cent of ICAS partners.

In spite of the fact that about half of people who take up accountancy jobs are women, only ten per cent of partners in the UK's Big Four accountancy firms are female.

Rhona Irving, head of tax at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Scotland, said: "At PwC we aim to have a diverse mix of the most talented people, including women, and give them the support they need to fulfil their potential.

"We believe our flexible working practices go a long way to achieving that for all of our people."