DEIB Challenges in Accounting

Accounting Pipelines and
Perceptions are in Peril

The accounting profession is in the midst of a transformation. External pressures abound. Debates range from whether accounting should be designated as a STEM major to afford access to Federal funds designated for those fields, to whether accounting programs should be integrated into other business majors such as finance or data analytics. Even inside the profession, key influencers and organizations are posing the question regarding the value of accounting skill sets in today’s technologically driven, AI-fueled work world. Meanwhile, enrollment pipelines are diminishing for accounting majors, and the changing demographic of America’s population is in no way reflected in the upper echelons of corporate sector and public accounting firms.

High-School Graduating Classes

Female U.S. Accountants and Auditors

Accounting Degree Program Enrollments

Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) in the Accounting Workforce

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“Universities reported increases in Hispanic/Latino accounting enrollees of 3% and 8% at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, respectively.”

-Mark C. Dawkins at AAA’s 2022 Annual Meeting

In 2020, hiring of new accounting graduates decreased 10%…

AICPA 2021 Trends Report

High-school graduating classes are expected to diversify significantly in the coming years…

- Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, September 2020

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Prioritizing and Advancing Diversity in Accounting

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