May 16, 2011 -- The 2011 Accounting MOVE Project list of Best Accounting Firms for Women is drawn from the 25 firms that participated in the inaugural cycle of this benchmarking project.

Firms were ranked on the range, depth and success of programs and workplace culture proven to remove barriers to women's success, especially at midlevel and above. The MOVE methodology pivots on four factors – money, opportunity, vital supports for work/life and entrepreneurship -- proven to advance women in the workplace.

These firms, in alphabetical order, are the 2011 Best Accounting Firms for Women:

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, Chicago, IL

Baker Tilly shows staying power at the top, with women accounting for 19% of its partners and principals. The firm's relatively new "Growth and Retention Of Women" program is crystallizing its priority to retain high-potential women as they enter the demanding transition to manager. The firm's strong pay equity accountability structure is a useful filter for understanding the cultures -- and challenges -- it faces as it integrates recently acquired firms. The next challenge: cross-pollinating pockets of excellence to the entire organization.

Clifton Gunderson, Milwaukee, WI

Women fill the pipeline up more consistently at Clifton Gunderson than at most firms: 44% of the firm's senior managers are women, boding well for the next crop of partners. Work-life changes instituted a decade ago by now-CEO Krista McMasters have significantly contributed to the firm's high retention rates. Now Clifton Gunderson is doubling down on programs designed to arm women with skills and experience that qualify them for partner, tying those efforts to the team dynamics that successfully support its work-life culture.

Hood & Strong, San Francisco, CA

Hood & Strong doesn't have a women's initiative; its diverse group of partners emphasizes business development and lead by example. Like many smaller firms, Hood's leadership grooms its high-potentials methodically, rotating them onto different teams with different supervisors to broaden their leadership visibility in the company. Not only are women 53% of firm partners, but even more are cresting in the pipeline, with women 67% of senior managers. Careful tracking of both career development opportunities and stretch rotations helps Hood keep its ROI up and its turnover low.

J.H. Cohn, LLP, New York, NY

With women making up a robust 58% of J.H. Cohn managers, the firm's leadership pipeline is rapidly filling. A range of women's initiatives and work-life programs introduced in the past five years keep women engaged and help prepare them to be tomorrow's business leaders. One key component: best-in-class tech support for flexworking so that alternative career paths aren't detours. Now, in a competitive environment, firm leaders say that these programs are differentiators that win client loyalty.

Johanson & Yau, San Jose, CA

Johanson & Yau proves that size is no barrier to innovation. The Silicon Valley firm combines the stability of an established firm with an entrepreneurial culture that encourages younger associates to speak up with smart ideas for expanding the business. The firm conducts weekly training sessions and maintains a robust mentoring program. Firm partners (40% are women) regularly meet one-on-one with employees to review personal goals, productivity and emerging career advancement and growth opportunities. Participation in marketing, career development and other committees is open to all employees.

Jones & Roth CPAs and Business Advisors, Eugene, OR

Jones & Roth has a new semi-annual review process. It doesn't have a catchy title, but the innovative integration of compensation and solid performance review is eye-catching. Three committees of mentors and managers evaluate each employee, twice a year. Bonuses are distributed with the year-end statement, which no longer takes anyone by surprise. The process helped the firm identify and correct the occasional pay inequity, while creating buy-in for firm strategic goals and accelerating the promotion of women to partnership.

Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP, Minneapolis, MN

Plante & Moran, Southfield, MI

Plante & Moran is among the best at retaining women in its pipeline but is committed

to doing even better. Recently, the firm created a formal mentoring program that paired senior-level female associates with partners to provide additional guidance, knowledge-building, and perspective to support their paths to partnership. With this added to the firm's already winning track record with flexwork and inclusion, Plante & Moran is poised to re-invent how accounting firms identify and cultivate women.

Rothstein Kass & Co., Roseland, NJ

With its "Allies Program" and "Rainmakers Roundtable" workshops focused on business development, Rothstein was among the first to partner with like-minded law, investment and financial advisory firms for mutual development of partner-track women. Now it is widening that lead with a structured program that frames business development skills for associates. Rothstein Kass is finding that the substantive involvement of women partners and directors in new-business pitch sessions often tips the decision in its favor.

About the 2011 Accounting MOVE Project

The Best Firms were among the 25 that participated in the 2011 Accounting MOVE Project. Through the project and its sponsoring associations, the American Society of Women Accountants and the American Woman's Society of Certified Public Accountants, the profession can consistently measure the status of women and collaborate on proven and promising practices that advance and retain women.

The 2011 report of the Accounting MOVE Project was made possible by charter sponsor Moss Adams LLP and Rothstein Kass & Co. The Accounting MOVE Project research partner is Wilson-Taylor Associates, Inc., which has been measuring and supporting the advancement of women since 1998.

"The Best Accounting Firms for Women show that innovation and excellence are found at firms of all sizes," said Joanne Cleaver, Wilson-Taylor president.

Registration for the 2012 cycle of the Accounting MOVE Project opens in October 2011.

Please visit http://www.wilson-taylorassoc.com/ for additional information about Wilson-Taylor projects, reports and tools for advancing women.

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