Women in Leadership

Intentional leadership development based on gender equality cultivates confidence, broadens perspectives, opens new pathways, and ultimately strengthens our organization. At AAFCPAs, we make a concerted effort to provide a flexible, inclusive, and respectful culture that recognizes the achievements of women at all levels and across all business practices.

As a result, we are proud to have elevated female leadership within the organization from just 25% in 2011 to 48% in 2023.

Women’s Opportunity Network (WON)

AAFCPAs’ Women’s Opportunity Network (WON) was established in 2011 to uphold our core values and underline the importance of creating and maintaining a professional environment based on gender equality. Since that time, WON has advanced mentorship opportunities and opened an ongoing dialog on intersectional experiences and what it’s like to be a woman in the workforce and in the accounting industry. Members collectively advocate for broader representation and foster a culture of self-advocacy. While its primary motivation is to improve the growth and retention of women, WON has enhanced professional development and work-life programs for all team members at our firm.

WON Goals

• Provide a platform for women to discuss and share insights about issues that disproportionately affect women.
• Provide tools, resources, and support for women to stay in public accounting and rise to leadership positions (if desired).
• Create opportunities for all team members at AAFCPAs to build referral networks, enhance professional development, and build confidence.
• Help team members strive toward maintaining work/life balance through mutual support, the exchange of ideas and advice, and workload balance among peers.
• Work collaboratively with the DEI&B Committee in the education of gender bias.

Workplace Equality and Belonging

AAFCPAs fosters a culture of collaboration, flexibility, and fairness to ensure women are empowered, heard, and recognized.

This begins with our work from anywhere model, which promotes a healthy work-life balance while empowering women with as much choice and agency in their career as possible. In addition, we encourage team members to take an active role in their careers, and we back that with professional support and development. Our Unconscious Bias training and leadership development programs demonstrate our commitment to leveling the playing field.

AAFCPAs is proud to host, sponsor, and attend events that mentor, educate, and inspire women. Appearances and events have included keynote presentations by AAFCPAs’ Managing Partner, Carla McCall, at MassCPAs’ Women’s Leadership Summit along with appearances at PrimeGlobal Women’s Leadership Summit and the Women’s Bar Association. We have also invited guest speakers to discuss current issues, such as Elise Holtzman, JD, PCC, President of The Lawyer’s Edge, who spoke on Imperfect, Impactful Leadership. Our Annual Women’s Roundtable Breakfast is yet another safe space where women can connect, debrief, and engage in candid conversations on their experiences as a woman in the workplace.

Inspiration From the Top

Strong female leadership and representation begins at the top. AAFCPAs is proud of the work and progress made by Managing Partner Carla McCall who, having joined the firm in part for its abundant advancement opportunities, has turned much of her focus on building opportunities for others. Her work has involved both internal and industry-wide initiatives that encourage women to enter and think creatively about the exciting and rewarding careers attainable in accounting.

Since assuming the role of Managing Partner, Carla has spearheaded AAFCPAs’ Women’s Opportunity Network and its DEI initiative along with programs to accelerate credentialing. She promotes an intrapreneurial mindset and broadens opportunities for new accounting professionals who were traditionally underrepresented in the industry.

Her work has been recognized with high honors including MassCPAs’ Women to Watch Leadership award, Boston Business Journal’s Women Up Leadership Award, and consecutively as one of the Most Powerful Women in the Accounting Profession by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and CPA Practice Advisor Magazine. She continues in her commitment to uplift young professionals and acts as volunteer at events and organizations that advance gender equality including the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University, Boston Business Journal’s annual Bizwoman Mentoring Monday, and Strong Women, Strong Girls, Inc.

Carla currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The association represents 431,000 members and students in 130 countries. Carla enters this role following a term as Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee.

What Team Members Say

“The WON Roundtable was a great opportunity to build relationships with women facing the same challenges as me. Women can be powerful allies at work, and I now know I’m surrounded by women who understand and support me. We discussed things that can be intimidating in a mixed group. I left feeling more confident and powerful!”

Amanda Hoxha | Accountant at AAFCPAs

“The Women’s Leadership Summit was a really great day! The energy in the room was amazing and motivating. Carla’s keynote about her personal career journey was particularly inspiring, especially as a young professional. Her key point was to be who you are not who someone else suggests you should be—and she’s kicking butt!”

Brittany Peralta | Senior Accountant at AAFCPAs