The Gender Balance Working Group, a sub group of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, focuses on issues related to gender equality, advocates for and supports the female members of Chartered Accountants Ireland
The need for advocates for women in the Irish workforce stretches right back to the marriage bar in the Republic of Ireland.
The marriage bar required women to leave the labour force once they were married and the consequences of this legislation have lived long in the Irish psyche, affecting all women.
As Ireland strives to achieve greater equality for women, the Gender Balance Working Group is ideally placed to advocate for female Chartered Accountants in the profession. As a voluntary member-led working group, our personal and professional experience plays a central role in shaping our ongoing dialogue.
Raising awareness of the need for equitable opportunities for women – including equitable access to employment, compensation and development opportunities – comes at a pivotal moment, following the Government’s introduction of gender pay reporting metrics designed to close the gender pay gap in Ireland.
The Gender Balance Working Group supports Chartered Accountants Ireland’s recognition of International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on 8 March both nationally and internationally.
This year’s IWD celebrations marked the launch of the Women’s Mentoring Circle, an exciting new career support service, providing a space for women in the Chartered Accountancy profession to connect and collaborate.
The first Mentoring Circle will take place at Chartered Accountants House, 47–49 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, at 5pm on Thursday, 18 April.
The Gender Balance Working Group also seeks to address issues ranging from the need to break down biases impeding women’s ability to climb the career ladder, to the challenges women face when trying to balance professional and personal responsibilities and ambitions.
Ultimately, we want to do all we can to improve the representation of female diversity in the Irish workforce.
Our working group has run a series of events, both in-person and virtual, inviting female Chartered Accountants to share their experiences: why they have chosen the profession; the career challenges they have faced; and their advice for the next generation coming behind them.
A recurring series in Accountancy Ireland called ‘My Story So Far’ continues to feature the stories and insights of a range of established and successful female Chartered Accountants. Its aim is to demonstrate to others that they should never feel as if they are taking on challenges in isolation.
The Gender Balance Working Group will continue to listen, and respond to, the needs, views and priorities of the female members of Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Equality is a journey, not a destination. It is important that the work this group is doing today sets a precedent for the next group of advocates to take on and advance further.
To find out more about the Gender Balance Working Group and other D&I resources, visit:
charteredaccountants.ie/diversity-and-inclusion
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