Women in Tax

Women in Tax: The Shocking Stats *

Sponsored by Deloitte & Touche

Within the Tax Profession, women are outnumbered by men 2:1
At Director and above, the ratio rises to 5:1

Compared to:

Between 1989 and 1999, the number of full-time male graduate students increased by
18% compared to a 59% increase for full-time women graduates1
Women college graduates will outnumber males by 811,000 to 562,000 in 20101
1 Digest of Education Statistics

The numbers paint a startling picture of the career outlook for Women in Tax.

Statistically, women are likely to attain a middle-management position - then the shutters come down.

Tax Overall: In-House Overall: Law/Accounting Firms Overall:
Men 42,418 67% 13,529 68% 15,884 73%
Women 20,986 33% 6,455 32% 5,927 27%



Mid Management: Mid Management: Manager/Sr. Manager **:
Men 13,280 67% 4,904 69% 4,518 66%
Women 6,646 33% 2,227 31% 2,284 34%



Director & Above: Tax Department Head: Partner:
Men 12,919 84% 1,335 83% 4,959 89%
Women 2,413 16% 270 17% 617 11%
* Using TaxSearch Inc.'s database of over 63,000 Tax Professionals
** Includes only Managers & Sr. Managers in Public Accounting

Here are comments from women who have attained senior tax management positions:
Joanne P. Used to work for a large international accounting firm. "Things came to a head after the birth of my daughter," she says. "It had always been a struggle to get the interesting jobs, but when I needed to leave the office at 5 to collect my daughter, I was effectively cut out of the loop. I wasn't seen as a "team player" any more. Men who had less experience and seniority than me got the best assignments. My career was effectively over. I left the profession."

Virginia C. Works for a large accounting/consultancy firm. She tells a similar tale. "Men are groomed for success from the start, while women are left to fend for themselves," she says. "I was lucky - I had the support of men in the power structure. But that's unusual. The solution? We need to get men to understand that they are part of the problem!"

Judy L. Works in a multinational corporation and agrees. "We also, as a profession, need to actively market ourselves to women. We need pro-active mentoring programs, where successful women can share challenges and solutions with women new to the profession."
Do you have a story to tell?

Do you have ideas on how to recruit, retain and promote women in the tax profession more effectively?

Let's hear from you on this and other issues at the TaxTalent Diversity Forum.

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