Diversity is an often-overlooked strength for businesses in all industries. Candidates with diverse experience, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds creates a stable foundation that supports greater resilience in changing times.
At The Pun Group, we understand the importance of diversity at our CPA firm and are proud to have an incredibly diverse workforce. We recognize how a wide range of perspectives strengthens our company internally and also supports our clients’ success. Here are some of the aspects of diversity to consider as you work with your accounting and advisory partner.
Ethnic Diversity
Accounting and advisory partners whose team members come from various ethnic backgrounds can strengthen connections with clients who share similar cultural backgrounds and language. Sharing native language between team members is an excellent means for building community but should be used sparingly to ensure other staff or meeting attendees don’t feel excluded.
Political Diversity
The shifting tides of national and global politics directly impact the day-to-day work produced by every CPA firm. While these deeply personal issues have the potential to cause conflicts between team members if unchecked, employing staff members whose political ideas differ helps firms see all sides of an issue and prepare clients to anticipate the effects of current and future political climates for their organizations.
Age Diversity
The Pun Group employs a multi-generational workforce, including qualified professionals from the Boomer, Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z generations. Each brings a unique and valuable outlook to our organization and helps our clients expand their own perspective. Older members of the accounting workforce bring an unmatched level of experience and proven expertise while younger team members embrace creative new ways of problem-solving and may see the full potentials of emerging industries, such as cannabis or gaming. We encourage all businesses to seek out accounting and advisory partners whose workforce reflects a wide range of ages.
Gender Diversity
Gender diversity is about more than compliance. Research shows that increased female diversity can translate directly to improvements in a company’s bottom line. Unfortunately, without a clear directive promoting gender diversity, majority-male firms may inadvertently continue to replicate their existing gender balance with new hires. As with age and ethnic diversity, an accounting and advisory firm with an evenly balanced gender distribution brings a valuable array of perspectives to clients.
How can you strengthen your business through accounting diversity?
Partnering with a CPA firm with a robust diversity policy in place bolsters your team with a wider array of backgrounds and points of view. Here are some steps to help you ensure your accounting partner is bringing an assortment of experience and perspectives to the table.
- Examine the balance of diversity at your CPA firm, particularly in senior leadership roles
- Request your accounting partner add new members to your team with different perspectives
- Ask your accounting & advisory partners to explain their diversity policies
- Include more diverse members of your own staff in your accounting projects
Diversity may not be top-of-mind when considering your choice of CPA firm; however, diverse perspectives and backgrounds are crucial elements of a strong advisory team – and your own business. Examine your diversity policies and practices along with those of your business advisory partners and make adjustments where needed. Taking a proactive approach to diversity will position your business for a more resilient future.
Get to know more about our team of diverse accounting and advisory experts by contacting The Pun Group today.