Provide more conducive work environment to women

Bangladesh is striving to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2023 and this includes ensuring gender equality in every aspect of life, according to speakers at a webinar.

So, all professions, businesses and industries need to embrace, utilise and engage women for their talents and capabilities, they said.

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The webinar, styled "Gender issues in the public accountancy profession: A global perspective", was organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) yesterday.

ICAB President Md Moniruzzaman said women are an integral part of the population for their pertinent contributions to the country's gross domestic product.

Nowadays, many women accountants are privately employed by small and large business entities and not-for-profit organisations, he added.

They work in areas of product pricing, budgeting and the examination of investment alternatives or serve as internal auditors, who inspect the controls and procedures in use by their employer. In addition, they also serve as in-house tax accountants, financial managers or countless other occupations.

Women who take on high-level positions in the accounting field, such as partners at a firm, can also create a culture of leadership that can inspire the next generation of women accountants, the ICAB president said.

Javed Siddiqui, a professor at the University of Manchester, said audit firms should be encouraged to provide a more conducive environment for women.

This may include incorporating more women in senior management level positions, allowing more flexible work hours, the provision for day care centres and so on.

While presenting the keynote paper, Siddiqui said the government could encourage more females in company management through policy support.

With the rising number of female members in the accountancy profession, ICAB also encourages and ensures more female members in leadership roles and key decision-making positions, such as in the council and other important committees, he added.