Leading figures from major law and accountancy firms admit there has been “some tokenism” over the issue of women in senior roles
Simon Collins, chair of KPMG UK, said there has to be organic change to address the problem but “we are still on the nursery slopes”.
Collins was speaking at the Women in Professional Firms: The Male Perspective event hosted by SJ Berwin and Steven Pearce Associates (SPA) last week.
It was the launch of SPA’s latest research report, based on interviews with senior-level men from leading professional firms on why there are so few women at the top of professional firms and what both genders can do, strategically and practically, to obtain a balance.
Accountancy and the legal profession have been criticised for the lack of women in partnership and leadership roles, despite a recent push to instil greater equality.
Collins said that although it is true that some are “paying lip service”, his firm is serious about the issue from the top down.
“There needs to be more organic change. The leadership and tone have to be authentic. It’s incredibly easy to undermine it so it’s vital for those in senior positions to set that tone,” he said.
Mark Bomer, senior partner at BDO LLP, said that it was a very difficult proposition. “How do you make firms more attractive to senior women?
“I admit our firm is not at the forefront but others have done some great things with little results,” he added.
Christopher Saul, senior partner at Slaughter & May, argued that, equality aside, from a business standpoint it represented a poor return on investment of time and money when almost half of his firm’s women leave before gaining a senior position.
He admitted that there has been some “tokenism” and that there has to be more tangible action on the issue.
This article can be read in full at economia.
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