The Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance (AFWA), in conjunction with the 2021 Accounting MOVE Project, has recognized Kaiser Consulting as the number one accounting and advisory firm on its annual Best Firms for Equity Leadership list. This year marks the third year that Kaiser Consulting has received the first-place honor of excellence for advancing women to top leadership positions.
Kaiser Consulting, a leading Columbus, Ohio-based accounting, finance, and IT compliance firm, was one of 23 firms recognized for having at least 30% women partners and principals. 33% is the widely recognized “tipping point” for members of any identity group to have an individual impact.
For 2019 through 2021, Kaiser Consulting led all firms in the United States named to the annual Best Firms for Equity Leadership list by having 100% female principals, the highest percentage in all three years.
As the only yearly benchmark that celebrates excellence for women at accounting and advisory firms, the Accounting MOVE Project is now in its 11th year. The project serves as the basis for the AFWA, the project’s association partner, to recognize the best firms for equity leadership based on any combination of culture, programs, initiatives, and growth.
The MOVE methodology, developed by research partner Wilson-Taylor Associates, Inc., investigates the factors proven to be essential to women’s career success:
- M = Money: Fair pay practices
- O = Opportunity: Advancement and leadership development
- V = Vital supports: Work-life programs that remove barriers
- E = Entrepreneurship: Operating experience for managing or business ownership
The 2021 Accounting MOVE Project report, entitled “Permanent Progress from Pandemic Pivots: Remote and Hybrid Workplaces Accelerate the Demand for Corresponding Career Paths,” examines how flexible work programs supporting women employees propelled accounting and advisory firms’ growth throughout the pandemic.
According to the 2021 report:
"The historic strengths of women leaders – communication, collaboration and community-building – were the operational superpowers that kept firms on track, especially in spring of 2020 and late summer of 2021, when COVID-19-forced shutdowns tangled daily operations.”
In a surprise piece of good news, with so many women leaving the workforce during the ongoing pandemic, the accounting and advisory firms included in this year’s project continued to promote women to senior leadership. This year, women comprise 32% of partners and principals at the firms participating in the Accounting MOVE Project, up from 29% in 2020.
“Kaiser Consulting is honored to be one of the accounting firms included in the 2021 Accounting MOVE Project that has continued offering advancement opportunities to women throughout the pandemic,” said Lori Kaiser, CPA, CGMA, MBA, founder and CEO of Kaiser Consulting.
“When the pandemic hit in early 2020, our firm had seven shareholders – all women. Then, in March of this year, during the midst of the pandemic with its fast-breaking business conditions and ever-changing needs of our clients and employees, we admitted our firm’s business development manager – also a woman – to our expanding shareholder team," stated Kaiser. "Additionally, with 80% of our employees being female, Kaiser Consulting has an above-average percentage of female staff when compared with the industry average of 55% based on all MOVE firms surveyed this year.”
“For nearly 30 years, we have leveraged our unique Optimum Scheduling process to create a successful flexible work environment that benefits our employees, clients, and firm,” noted Kaiser. “I’m proud that our flexible business model has proved to be a stable yet adaptable, positive force that has played a pivotal role in helping Kaiser Consulting retain and attract exceptionally talented women during these very challenging times.”
The Accounting MOVE Project recognizes Kaiser Consulting on its Best Firms for Equity Leadership list for the third time in 2021 as the firm prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2022.
About Kaiser Consulting
Kaiser Consulting offers a full suite of accounting, finance, and information technology compliance and data security solutions delivered with industry-specific expertise to help organizations navigate the complexities of growth and change. A trusted advisor since 1992, the firm proudly serves enterprises of all sizes, including privately held and publicly traded businesses, multinational Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, closely held entities, visionary start-ups, and mission-driven nonprofit organizations.
Currently ranked as the 10th largest accounting firm in Central Ohio by Columbus Business First and Columbus CEO Magazine, Kaiser Consulting helps clients throughout Ohio, the Midwest, and beyond manage immediate needs, meet short-term targets, and achieve long-range goals. The firm’s commitment to experienced and knowledgeable professionals gives clients a distinct advantage in identifying potential business issues, implementing solutions, and eliminating obstacles before encountered. To learn more, we invite you to please visit our website at https://kaiserconsulting.com.
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