Female accountants in the public service

Abstract

Purpose: The study aims to assess what leads female accountants to work in the Public Service, particularly to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of working in the Public Service from the perspective of a female accountant. Design: In order to fulfil the research objective, nineteen semi–structured interviews were conducted with qualified female accountants working in different governmental ministries and departments. Findings: The study unveiled that many female accountants agreed that one of the main advantages of working in the Public Service is work-life balance measures which allow them to pursue their careers while taking care of their family. Findings further reveal that job security, equal pay and equal ability to apply for promotions are considered an advantage for female accountants in the Public Service. However, there were also some disadvantages encountered in the Public Service, including certain work-life balance measures not being implemented equally for all who wish to reap their maximum benefit. Additionally, female accountants felt that they had a low salary, less opportunity to progress and grow within the accountancy field, difficulties to obtain the warrant in audit, and discrimination when it came to promotions. Conclusion: Society places a heavy burden on women with regards to the raising of children. As the fertility rate in Malta has plummeted, it is fundamental for the Government to introduce more flexible measures that may be availed of by both genders equally to encourage burden sharing and a career for all. This is because if more men made use of gender equality measures, women would find it easier to continue to unleash their potential at the workplace while also having children. Value: This dissertation sheds light on the importance of exploiting the full potential of the workforce. The study shows how female accountants feel about pursuing their careers within the different governmental ministries and departments. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of flexible measures that allow women to pursue their accounting career while also taking care of their families.