With International Women’s Day fast approaching, we’re excited to share an article we’ve written for the Geelong Times’s upcoming Women in Business insert, which will be published on Friday 7th March. The insert highlights female owned and operated businesses across our region, as well as inspiring women in our community.
As Geelong’s oldest accounting practice, we’re proud to celebrate the strides we’ve made towards diversity and equality over the past 120 years. We thought our blog readers might also appreciate this insight into our journey:
When we first opened our doors in Geelong in 1905, the concept of women in accounting was almost unthinkable. Fast forward 120 years, and while Davidsons maintains its position as Geelong’s oldest accounting practice, our approach to gender equality and workplace culture has evolved significantly, benefiting both our clients and our staff.
Our team is immensely proud to be part of a profession that embraces diversity and equality, although we recognise there’s still more work to be done. Our commitment to equality and flexibility isn’t just about being a good employer; it directly benefits our clients. For businesses seeking accounting and advisory services, working with a diverse team means access to more comprehensive, innovative solutions.
“We know that gender equality and diversity of thought lead to better solutions for our clients,” says Director of Tax and Business Services, Kylie McEwan. “With a broad range of team members, we can align the best Davidsons people to our clients so they can build great relationships.”
This client-first philosophy has driven recent significant changes in our leadership team, including the appointment of Lucy Partridge as Audit Director and the addition of five new equity partners, substantially increasing female representation at the highest levels.
“Sometimes women relate better to women, and this type of work can be intimidating for some people,” notes Tax and Business Services Manager and new equity partner Carolyn Grills-Harte. “It’s important to find an accountant or adviser you have synergy with.”
Our commitment to equality and flexibility extends to the practical initiatives we’ve introduced for our staff, including flexible working arrangements, work-from-home options and a nine-day working fortnight. These allow our team to balance career progression with personal commitments. This supportive environment benefits our staff and enhances the quality of service we can provide to our clients.
“I’ve worked in firms that just want you to fit into their box with no give or take, and it’s impossible to make that work with family life,” shares Lucy Partridge. “But at Davidsons, I always felt like I was heard, seen and treated as a person. That’s the experience we want to deliver to our clients.”
Kylie, who has experienced different workplace cultures throughout her career, emphasises the difference at Davidsons: “One of the reasons for our longevity is the culture and the people. We’re just a good firm and a good bunch of people. The grass is definitely greener on this side of the fence.”
As we celebrate 120 years of serving the Geelong community, it’s clear that our progressive approach has been key to our longevity and success. By continually evolving to meet the changing needs of team members and clients alike, we’re well-positioned to support local businesses for another century and beyond.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is factual in nature and objectively ascertainable and, therefore, does not constitute financial product advice. Importantly, the factual information that has been supplied does not take into account your personal circumstances, objectives or goals.