The 2020 Accounting MOVE Project Report says that several factors are coming together to create “a rare power moment for women.”
One is that Gen X and older Millennials, who may have put their partnership pursuits on pause while starting families, are now seeking those opportunities. Additionally, diversity among consultants shows clients that firms are bringing fresh thinking to the table. At the same time, baby boomer women are eager to leave a legacy “by showing how their investments in rising women have strengthened firms’ futures,” the report says.
The annual report, which also lists the best accounting firms for women, is a project of the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance and the Accounting MOVE Project, which is based on research partner Wilson-Taylor Associates’ methodology, which examines money, opportunity, vital supports and entrepreneurship for women.
The report notes that women are leading new lines of business, particularly advisory services.
“Women are perfectly positioned to chart new ways to win new types of business, because they take encouragement and direction from incremental wins,” says Joanne Cleaver, president of Wilson-Taylor Associates.
Listed below is The 2020 Accounting MOVE Project Best CPA Firms for Women. All are IPA 100 firms, with the exception of Lurie and OUM & Co.:
- Pittsford, N.Y.-based The Bonadio Group
- San Francisco-based BPM LLP
- St. Louis-based Brown Smith Wallace
- Clark Nuber, Bellevue, Wash.
- New York-based CohnReznick
- Eide Bailly
- Minneapolis-based Lurie
- Louisville, Ky.-based MCM CPAs and Advisors
- Seattle-based Moss Adams
- San Francisco-based Novogradac & Company
- San Francisco-based OUM & Co.
- Southfield, Mich.-based Plante Moran
- Troy, Mich.-based Rehmann
The 2020 Accounting MOVE Project Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership lists firms with at least 30% of women in their partner and principal ranks. Listed in descending percentage order:
- Kaiser Consulting, Powell, Ohio – 100%
- Sarasota, Fla.-based Kerkering Barberio & Co. – 60%
- Alexandria, Va.-based KWC – 59%
- Bader Martin, Seattle – 54%
- Gainesville, Fla.-based James Moore & Co. – 53%
- Eugene, Ore.-based Jones & Roth – 50%
- Tucson, Ariz.-based BeachFleischman – 46%
- Bethesda, Md.-based Councilor Buchanan & Mitchell – 44%
- Dallas-based Huselton Morgan & Maultsby – 44%
- Abbott Stringham & Lynch, San Jose, Calif. – 43%
- Johanson & Yau, San Jose, Calif. – 43%
- *Clark Nuber, Bellevue, Wash. – 42%
- Lincoln, Neb.-based HBE – 42%
- *Pittsford, N.Y.-based The Bonadio Group – 40%
- *St. Louis-based Brown Smith Wallace – 40%
- *Louisville, Ky.-based MCM CPAs and Advisors – 39%
- Atlanta-based Frazier & Deeter – 34%
- *Troy, Mich.-based Rehmann – 31%
- *Eide Bailly – 31%
- *Minneapolis-based Lurie – 30%
- *San Francisco-based Novogradac – 30%
*Also included on the 2020 Best CPA Firms for Women list
