Number cruncher : Fairer sex flocks to accountancy

A BINDI-TOTING bean counter ? No that?s not something we just dreamt up. Lady members crunchers are not only making their presence felt in banks and financial institutions, they are also increasingly opting for Chartered Accountancy as a career option. According to data from the ICAI, the percentage of women Chartered Accountants has more than doubled from 5.2 % in April 1995 to 13.1 % in April 2006. Women CAs say the profession, with its flexibility to work part time and from home, allows them to juggle work and family much better than a nine to five job.

Top women CAs say that?s part of the reason why women are flocking to this profession. Also, for someone with a commerce background, it?s one of the obvious options, says Bhavna Doshi, senior advisor, KPMG. ? The profession is easier to continue with family and kids. Women can work part time when they get married or have kids. They can also work from home. Increasingly, more and more girls are opting for commerce after which there are two options ? doing an MBA or going to for Chartered Accountancy. The latter is a comparatively easier option ? she explains.

Interestingly, the trend of women CAs is a product of liberalization. The number of women CAs was stagnant till 1990. In the 1980-89 period, ICAI had less than 2000 women members. It was in the period 1990-99 that the surge in women taking up Chartered Accountancy as a career happened. Over 6500 women registered with ICAI between 1990-99. The period 2000-06 has already seen 9667 women enroll as ICAI members. As of April this year, ICAI has about 17116 women members and over l lakh male CAs on its rolls.

The other triggers for the trend are opportunities in new sunshine sectors. There has been a surge in job opportunities, especially in the BPO and financial services sectors, says Pricewaterhouse Coopers executive director Satyavati berera ? In case of BPOs, the first processes to migrate to are in accounting. Also, earlier one could take the CA course after graduation. ?


Source: : The Economic Times 05th September 2006