Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access
Tell us how your company celebrated diversity recently - and inspire others.
Whether you're celebrating Pride Month or a certain heritage or diversity as a whole, we want to hear about it! Share your company's diversity, equity, inclusion, and access initiatives and we'll spotlight you on our social media channels and in Connecticut CPA magazine.
Your action could inspire more companies to follow suit, helping to build a stronger, more diverse accounting profession.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Toolkit is Here!
America is changing. In order for businesses to adapt and thrive, the future of our workforce must be increasingly diverse. Our toolkit highlights four key focus areas and accompanying strategies to help organizations identify opportunities for growth through adaptation, innovation, and collaboration.
- Raise Awareness
- Attract Diverse Talent
- Drive Career Promotion
- Increase Accountability for Progress
The CTCPA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEI&A) initiative works to encourage and promote diversity and inclusion within the profession and at our organizations, and is intended to provide events and programming to help engage members in meaningful discussions about diversity.
The DEI&A Group, open to all members, engages in conversations encompass a wide array of topics, including six pillars of diversity identified by co-chairs Shanita Booker and Cynthia Calderon: Personal experiences, learning styles, education, careers, professional experiences, and talents.
Be a part of moving the profession forward!
CTCPA members can log in to the CTCPA Connect online community to join or get in touch with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Group.
Diversifying U.S. Accounting Talent: A Critical Imperative to Achieve Transformational Outcomes
As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the accounting profession and our companies and firms, the CTCPA was pleased to take part in a research project with the Institute of Management Accountants and California Society of CPAs to study diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the U.S. accounting profession.
News
Upcoming Events
How the path to partner has widened for women, minorities
May 26, 2022
Sino Varghese, CPA, had plenty of diverse role models as she sought to become a partner at Moss Adams in a profession that's seeing more women and ethnic minorities promoted to leadership roles.
Disproportionately displaced during pandemic, companies, state focus on bringing more women back to the workforce
May 23, 2022
After leaving the labor force 11 years ago to care for her two children, Marin Ranta wanted to return to work last fall.
How Women are Overcoming Bias in Bookkeeping
May 17, 2022
Women in bookkeeping often face bias due to misconceptions about the work that they do and clients undervaluing bookkeeping in general. Here, Tanya Hilts of Cloud Business Services and Kelly Gonsalves of Totally Booked explain why bookkeeping as a brand needs to change in order to overcome bias.
How to be a trailblazer for women in the profession
May 10, 2022
Women are still far behind where they should be in terms of business and accounting leadership, sitting in less than a quarter of C-suite executive offices. Women of color are in only 4% of those positions.
Become more inclusive of neurodivergent employees
April 27, 2022
Caitlyn O'Neil, CPA, wasn't always open about being on the autism spectrum. It took a couple of years before the senior tax accountant at CBIZ MHM in Denver told most of her colleagues she's autistic. "Before that I really struggled trying to explain some of my behaviors. I just called it 'busy season brain,'" she said. "Then I just decided it was too much stress, and just acknowledging this is why I'm different, that lifted a huge weight off my shoulders."
Diverse accounting hires on the rise: AICPA
April 06, 2022
The diversity of accounting graduates hired by U.S. CPA firms increased almost five percentage points, from 30.1% in 2018 to 34.8% in 2020, according to a new report from the AICPA.
Cognitive Biases for Accountants
Jun 6th 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
2.00 Credits
The course provides a concise overview of cognitive biases - thinking errors and "brain bugs" that may distort perceptions, compromise ethics, trigger inaccurate judgments, and spark illogical interpretations in your accounting work. Discover the most common types of cognitive biases in the profession, and how to recognize and address these flaws and blindspots in your "mental firmware". This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
6 Strategies To Promote Diversity & Inclusion In Your Workplace
Jun 7th 12:00pm - 12:53pm
Online
1.00 Credits
Although organizations are trying to create and manage diverse and inclusive workplaces, many are not aware of some of the best practices and simple strategies they can incorporate to promote such an environment. We are currently living in unprecedented times. Division, bias, and exclusion, based on factors associated with social injustice and a general lack of appreciation for diversity, seems to have become our current societal norm. With the high stress and anxiety created by these current trends in society, it is even more important for organizations to provide a safe space for their employees where there is a genuine sense of belonging and fair access to opportunity. The goal of this course is to outline the relationship between diversity and inclusion, while providing very practical strategies for HR Professionals in their role to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Corporate Ethics Cases in Diversity and Inclusion
Jun 13th 9:00am - 10:00am
Online
1.00 Credits
The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct makes it clear that workplace harassment and discrimination is unacceptable, but gives little further guidance. Other behavior standards can help us fill the gaps. This session will discuss cases involving ethical issues relating to diversity, including age discrimination, ethnicity, sexually hostile work environments, and gender identity. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Ethics: Human Capital Reporting and DEI for Accountants
Jun 14th 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Online
2.00 Credits
The course provides a concise overview of human capital reporting and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs - an emerging system of disclosure standards and semi-standards in the United States and around the world. Diversity is the presence of differences within a given setting. Equity is the process of ensuring that processes and programs are impartial, fair and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual. Inclusion is the practice of ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging in the workplace. While individual accountants might differ in their opinions over the relative importance of or even the necessity for DEI initiatives, practitioners are under increasing pressure from regulators, consumers, investors, employees, and other stakeholders to measure and attest to all kinds of human capital data. Participants will walk away with an increased situational awareness of human capital and DEI reporting, and a social governance starter strategy. This can be used immediately to develop a more inclusive internal culture that values differences. It can also help bring together the perspectives of individuals from diverse backgrounds, life experiences, preferences, and beliefs, and improve outcomes for your clients, people, and communities. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
6 Strategies To Promote Diversity & Inclusion In Your Workplace
Jun 18th 2:00pm - 2:53pm
Online
1.00 Credits
Although organizations are trying to create and manage diverse and inclusive workplaces, many are not aware of some of the best practices and simple strategies they can incorporate to promote such an environment. We are currently living in unprecedented times. Division, bias, and exclusion, based on factors associated with social injustice and a general lack of appreciation for diversity, seems to have become our current societal norm. With the high stress and anxiety created by these current trends in society, it is even more important for organizations to provide a safe space for their employees where there is a genuine sense of belonging and fair access to opportunity. The goal of this course is to outline the relationship between diversity and inclusion, while providing very practical strategies for HR Professionals in their role to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Ethics at Work: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Jun 23rd 9:30am - 11:30am
Online
2.00 Credits
Embracing and cultivating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace IS Ethics at Work! This session explores ethical values and principles related to these initiatives and examines workplace behaviors, individually and collectively, that foster and promote organizational well being. Robbie offers findings on strategies that work to improve DEI efforts based on best practices and interviews with experts in the field. Please note that for those of you who have taken courses from Robbie there will be some duplication and much new content. This session is designed for people who wish for a more fair and just world and workplace. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
6 Strategies To Promote Diversity & Inclusion In Your Workplace
Jun 24th 3:00pm - 3:53pm
Online
1.00 Credits
Although organizations are trying to create and manage diverse and inclusive workplaces, many are not aware of some of the best practices and simple strategies they can incorporate to promote such an environment. We are currently living in unprecedented times. Division, bias, and exclusion, based on factors associated with social injustice and a general lack of appreciation for diversity, seems to have become our current societal norm. With the high stress and anxiety created by these current trends in society, it is even more important for organizations to provide a safe space for their employees where there is a genuine sense of belonging and fair access to opportunity. The goal of this course is to outline the relationship between diversity and inclusion, while providing very practical strategies for HR Professionals in their role to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
6 Strategies To Promote Diversity & Inclusion In Your Workplace
Jun 28th 7:00pm - 7:53pm
Online
1.00 Credits
Although organizations are trying to create and manage diverse and inclusive workplaces, many are not aware of some of the best practices and simple strategies they can incorporate to promote such an environment. We are currently living in unprecedented times. Division, bias, and exclusion, based on factors associated with social injustice and a general lack of appreciation for diversity, seems to have become our current societal norm. With the high stress and anxiety created by these current trends in society, it is even more important for organizations to provide a safe space for their employees where there is a genuine sense of belonging and fair access to opportunity. The goal of this course is to outline the relationship between diversity and inclusion, while providing very practical strategies for HR Professionals in their role to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Cognitive Biases for Accountants
Jul 8th 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
The course provides a concise overview of cognitive biases - thinking errors and "brain bugs" that may distort perceptions, compromise ethics, trigger inaccurate judgments, and spark illogical interpretations in your accounting work. Discover the most common types of cognitive biases in the profession, and how to recognize and address these flaws and blindspots in your "mental firmware". This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Corporate Ethics Cases in Diversity and Inclusion
Jul 11th 9:00am - 10:00am
Online
1.00 Credits
The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct makes it clear that workplace harassment and discrimination is unacceptable, but gives little further guidance. Other behavior standards can help us fill the gaps. This session will discuss cases involving ethical issues relating to diversity, including age discrimination, ethnicity, sexually hostile work environments, and gender identity. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
