Celebrating Women in Accountancy this International Women’s Day

TBL Accountants International Women's Day team picture 2020 'An equal world is an enabled world.'

As well as International Women’s Day taking place 8 March 2020, this month also marks a significant milestone for women in accountancy.

Following the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act in December 1919, Mary Harris Smith became the first female member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) in 1920, paving the way for women to join the accounting profession for generations to come.

You can find out more about Mary Harris Smith and ICAEW’s celebrations of 100 years of women in chartered accountancy here.

To honour this centenary and celebrate our team in our Southend office, our team are sharing our favourite inspirational quotes:

Claire Barrington, Southend

“Always stay true to yourself and your aspirations. Don’t depend on anyone else or let their opinions sway you. Be confident and remember to keep laughter in your life!” – Claire Barrington

Kim Sharp

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” – Sheryl Sandberg

Liz Darby, Southend

“The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.” – Albert Einstein 

Lauren Beard

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” – Gloria Steinem

Joanne Upton, Southend

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” – Unknown

El Collins

“Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” – Michelle Obama

Lisa Bronze, Southend

“Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.” – Unknown

Megan Jenkins

“Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules and build a life you’re proud to live.” – Anne Sweeney

Rose Knight, Southend

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama

Lastly, our Client Manager, Lisa Keith, has the following words to share as we celebrate International Women’s Day across TBL:

“I am pleased that TBL are supporting International Women’s Day, especially as 2020 marks 100 years since the first woman joined ICAEW as a Chartered Accountant. It would be nice to think that this meant that the accountancy profession was forward thinking and at the forefront of gender equality, but unfortunately this is not the case. Undoubtedly there have been significant improvements with firms like TBL actively encourage all employees, male and female, to reach their full potential. As part of my work I am privileged to provide advice to many women successfully run their own businesses in order to fulfil their work passions while juggling other pressures in their daily life.”

Here at TBL Accountants, we proudly embrace diversity in the workplace and strive for inclusivity. After all, an equal world is an enabled world – which is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day campaign.

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