The glass ceiling: cracked but not broken? evidence from a study of chartered accountants

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of the second stage of research into the career progression of chartered accountants which is focusing in particular on the careers experienced by women. The paper includes a description of hours of work, remuneration and perceived success factors in accountancy, before considering the impact of domestic responsibilities on the work/home interface. Finally, the qualities considered important by chartered accountants in their profession are evaluated. The paper concludes that women face several barriers which are not experienced by their male counterparts in their careers and that although the `glass ceiling' has been broken by some women, it is frequently at substantial cost to their personal lives