In the 2023 Accounting MOVE Project report, a talent-starved profession receives a fresh influx of strategies and inspiration for investing in the women it must attract and retain to achieve short goals and survive long-term.
With nearly 75% of accounting firm leaders eligible for retirement, and accounting degree college enrollment continuing to drop, the profession is at a crossroads. It is more important than ever for firms to find ways to attract and retain employees to not only meet increasing client needs, but to simply survive.
The Accounting MOVE Project report finds firms embracing the new super skill of career sustainability are rising to the occasion. For women, career sustainability addresses the capacity to maintain motivation and energy at every step, while rebalancing the personal and professional with each engagement. For firms, it engenders a leadership culture, defining new capabilities, qualifications and measurements for unmapped growth.
“In today’s increasingly challenging talent crunch, it is important for firms to create opportunities for women to advance in the way that makes the most sense for them,” said Tricia Bencich, inclusion and social responsibility associate director for Moss Adams. “We must work together to ensure clients get the attention they need, employees have the power to craft their ideal careers, and firms can continue to thrive.”
Along with this year’s report, the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance and Accounting MOVE Project released its two lists of exemplary CPA firms, based on the Accounting MOVE Project results: the 2023 Best Firms for Women and the 2023 Best Firms for Equity Leadership. Winning firms are listed below.
The Best CPA Firms for Women:
- Abbott, Stringham & Lynch
- Armanino
- BeachFleischman PLLC
- BerryDunn
- Bland & Associates, P.C.
- BPM LLP
- Clark Nuber
- Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, PC
- Eide Bailly
- James Moore & Co.
- Johanson & Yau
- Moss Adams
- Rehmann LLC
- RoseRyan, a ZRG Company
- Schellman
- The Bonadio Group
The Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership:
(In descending order of percentage of women partners & principals. To qualify, women must comprise at least 31% of a firm’s partners and principals.)
- 73% KWC Certified Public Accountants
- 61% Kerkering, Barberio & Co.
- 57% BeachFleischman PLLC
- 57% RoseRyan, a ZRG Company
- 53% Abbott, Stringham & Lynch
- 50% Clark Nuber
- 48% James Moore & Co.
- 44% Bland & Associates, P.C.
- 44% HBE LLP
- 43% The Bonadio Group
- 43% MCM CPAs & Advisors LLP
- 43% Jones & Roth
- 42% Johanson & Yau
- 40% Councilor Buchanan & Mitchell, PC
- 39% BerryDunn
- 37% Rehmann LLC
- 35% Frazier & Deeter
- 31% Eide Bailly
- 31% BPM LLP
