Disha Chhugani celebrates the fact that women are making strong progress in the accountancy profession – although there’s still work to be done.
Once upon a spreadsheet, the accounting world was as grey as the suits that filled the boardroom. But times have changed – in 2025 the story of finance is being told in full colour, with women not just present but pivotal.
According to the ICAEW, over 44% of its global membership is now female, and that number rises to 52% for new student joiners.
Even your Chartered Accountant Student Society of London is comprised of 40% female directors. In other words: the future of accountancy has a new look – and it’s refreshingly balanced.
But let’s be clear. This isn’t just a numbers game. Women in the profession are bringing more than qualifications to the table – they’re reshaping leadership, communication and trust in the financial statements. And they’re doing it while juggling exam stress, client calls and the occasional quarter-life crisis over coffee.
Take Sharron Gunn, who was ICAEW’s Chief Operating Officer and a long-standing advocate for women in finance. She’s spoken openly about the challenges women face on the path to partnership and beyond, especially when balancing career progression with real life.
And Hemione Hudson, a former UK Head of Audit at PwC UK and now the Chair and CEO of PwC China, made partner in her early 30s and has since been a vocal champion of inclusive leadership and mentoring young women in the firm. These aren’t just impressive CVs – they’re roadmaps for the rest of us.
And it’s not just those at the top. Across the UK, part qualified ACA students (like you) are navigating complex audit files, learning to interpret IFRSs, and figuring out how to make their voices heard in a team meeting dominated by louder colleagues. It’s a journey. One that requires resilience, a good support network and FSLIs that miraculously don’t come into scope before a deadline.
Still, there are hurdles. While women are entering the profession in strong numbers, only 23% of equity partners in the UK’s top 50 accountancy firms are female, according to Accountancy Age. The ‘pipeline’ may be flowing, but the glass ceiling? Still in need of a good smashing.
But here’s the good news: that ceiling is showing cracks – and you might be the one to break through. The move toward inclusive leadership, flexible work and ESG-focused strategy is creating a landscape where skills like empathy, collaboration and critical thinking are valued alongside technical knowledge. And these are areas where women are excelling.
If you’re sitting in the office wondering whether anyone noticed your last contribution – yes, they did. If you’re quietly asking yourself whether you’re ‘good enough’ to become a partner someday – yes, you are. Confidence might lag behind competence, but the gap is closing.
And if you’re looking to find your people?
The Chartered Accountant Student Society of London is proud to be 40% female-led – and we’re just getting started. Come along to our events, connect with like-minded women, and be part of a community that celebrates ambition, supports growth and knows exactly what it means to hustle in heels (or trainers).
You’re welcome here.
So to every ACA trainee who’s studying for exams while working full time, to every woman who’s trying to be heard without being labelled ‘bossy’, and to everyone pushing quietly but fiercely toward the next level: keep going. The profession needs you. Not just to balance the books, but to lead the way forward.
The future of accounting isn’t just compliant, it’s confident, collaborative and probably carries a tote bag with six highlighters and a snack. And it looks a lot like you.
- Disha Chhugani, Mentorship & Professional Development Director, CASSL
