Published in OSCPA Takeaways, Mar. 10, 2016
By Jennifer Rieman, CAE, manager, public relations

It’s still unusual for women to hold top positions in public accounting. According to the AICPA, women represent about half of new CPAs in the accounting profession yet only 14.3% of Executive Officer positions in business and industry and 19% of partners in CPA firms nationwide.

Robin Baum, CPA, managing partner and Sue Krantz, CPA, CGMA, partner at Zinner & Co. in Cleveland don’t mind blazing trails as long as they’re forging a path for everyone – not just women.

“The question we get very frequently is about work-life balance and what it’s like to be a working mother,” Baum said. “I always look at it from the standpoint that there’s working fathers too.”

For Baum, retired partner Don Zinner was a huge factor in her success. After having her second child, Baum was ready to quit and stay home. Zinner convinced her to stay in public accounting by offering her a flexible work schedule.

“Don was very progressive in his thinking – this was 1992,” Baum said. “He said, what if you don’t come to the office every day, what if you can work from home – this was way before remote work styles were a thing.”

Thanks to Zinner’s encouragement Baum stayed in and was offered partner in 1999, the same year as Sue Krantz. Both women believe their advancement had everything to do with their capabilities and nothing to do with their gender.

“The partner group just saw us as people that would be successful taking on the roles before them,” Krantz said. “They were very much looking at the 30 thousand foot view and what was in the best interest of their clients.”

“I consider myself very lucky to have been mentored by men who didn’t see gender as a differentiating factor. We were capable, and they knew we could get the job done,” Baum added.

More than 25 years later the women are part of a leadership team dedicated to creating an environment where both men and women want to work. Zinner & Co. employees are offered alternative work arrangements and a family-friendly environment.

It hasn’t been without its challenges. At one point, the firm faced a perception in the marketplace that Zinner was a ‘female’ firm. Women were actively seeking out the firm because of its female leadership, assuming that it was a women-friendly environment.

“Some people might take that as a tremendous compliment but it really caused me a lot of concern,” Baum said. “We had a conversation and we said we want to make sure we have a good balance. We want different people with different personalities and perspectives.”

It’s now Baum and Krantz’s turn to mentor younger staff, and both are dedicated to building a pipeline of professionals ready to assume leadership roles.

“When I try to decide who’s going to advance, I’m going to look at who’s the most competent, most capable, most deserving of that promotion,” Baum said. “Do I get great pleasure out of the fact that we’ve been able to retain a lot of talented women? Sure. But I’ll be honest, I am encouraged by the promotion and advancement of all of our young staff members. They are the future of the profession!”

OSCPA Women’s Initiatives is dedicated to providing resources and opportunities to help women achieve their definition of success.