Registration is now open for this year's Accounting MOVE Project, with the theme "Private Equity's Impact on Accounting Career Paths."
The Accounting MOVE Project is an annual survey of accounting and financial firms that measures demographic data and workplace culture to help advance women and other underrepresented groups in the profession. It creates annual lists of the best firms for women and equity leadership based on this research. The results will be released Oct. 25 in conjunction with the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance Women Who Count Conference.
"Private equity is definitely shifting the dynamic of how firms are managed and will certainly impact traditional career paths," Cindy Stanley, executive director for the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance, said in a statement. "We believe this research is important to the profession as a whole, but particularly to women in accounting who are more likely to feel the impacts of these shifts. We encourage firms to participate in the Accounting MOVE Project so we can uncover as many data points and best practices as possible to share with the profession so we can identify new ways for women to succeed on their own terms."
Another theme to be explored in this year's MOVE Project is defending the benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion. The project will examine how successful firms build and grow their DEI initiatives, how employees — particularly Gen Z — respond to firms with DEI commitments, and how these commitments affect client trust and service delivery.
"Creating a culture where employees can thrive in their careers without giving up their personal lives, where client needs are met or exceeded, and where the firm as a whole succeeds is not an impossible goal," Tricia Bencich, inclusion and social responsibility associate director at Top 100 Firm Moss Adams and founding partner of the Accounting MOVE Project, said in a statement. "It does take a commitment to listening to your people, doing all you can to create an inclusive culture, and understanding that one size never fits all."
Key dates and deadlines for the 2024 Accounting MOVE Project include:
- April 8: Registration opens;
- April 29: Survey opens;
- July 28: Survey closes;
- October 15: Best Firms for Women & Best Firms for Equity Leadership winners informed; and
- October 25: MOVE Project results and report released in conjunction with the AFWA's "Women Who Count conference.
Firms can register for the Accounting MOVE Project by visiting its
