I have been working in the accounting industry for over 50 years. There is so much I can speak about in regards to changes in technologies, software development, shifts in clients’ needs and so on. The one thing that stands out the most for me is that throughout the years there has been a rise of female Accountants in the workplace. It doesn’t seem that long ago that the industry, traditionally a prominently male industry, started recognising female accounting professionals. There has been an increase in gender diversity yet I can still remember a time where women had to fight for their title.
I believe the industry has taken significant steps to accommodate and welcome female accountants but we still have a long way to go. I am celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022 to bring awareness on gender equality. There has been an increase of female professional Accountants throughout the years and their contribution to the profession and industry has been immense. I want to break the bias.
de Kretser has a powerhouse of talented women
I work amongst these women and I can wholeheartedly say they are the reason the company is what it is today. They’ve held up the fort throughout the years by supporting business activities, ensuring workflow and managing client portfolios. They brought something I could never offer myself. Thank you Atisa, Kirsty, Ainsley, Cindy, Kimberly and especially my wife Suzie for playing essential roles in the business.
I’ve passed on the baton to my daughter Atisa, with whom I’ve created a partnership and developed a wonderful working relationship. Atisa is also part owner of de Kretser Chartered Accountants and a Principal. It has become her time to lead the new generation. She is a systems thinker and always sees the bigger picture. I commend Atisa for her hard work and for everything that she’s achieved from such a young age.
I recently had a nice talk with Atisa over coffee and she told me something I will never forget. While she was studying to become a CA, many women were discouraged from pursuing their studies as they felt like they were expected to fail. This absolutely shattered me as I never imagined it to be this way.
I want to underline the hard work, passion and courage of all the women in the industry and my way of showing support for International Women’s Day 2022 is through this heartfelt letter. This one goes out to all the remarkable women in the industry – To the ones I’ve never had the pleasure of working with and to the ones that have brought me so much insight throughout the years, I hope the accounting industry has treated you well. Thank you for your contribution to the profession.
Sincerely,
Patrick de Kretser
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