Standard Bank supports gender transformation

Standard Bank partnered with the African Women Chartered Accountants Forum (AWCA) to sponsor its 20^th anniversary celebration, held in Sun City during Women’s Month, to further transformation and gender equality in the accountancy profession.

According to a statement issued by Standard Bank on Monday, the celebration recognised some of the country’s most exceptional women achievers and raised funds to facilitate access to the profession for young women who are aspirant chartered accountants (CAs).

The group says the net proceeds from the fundraising will be allocated to the AWCA Bursary Fund, which has assisted 135 students thus far and will aid the organisation’s financial support.

Thembelihle Ngema, chief financial officer of the consumer and high net worth clients group at Standard Bank, says the forum has played a critical role in enabling growth and greater participation of black women in business and financial services.

A seat at the table

“As Standard Bank, we are proud to sponsor an event that celebrates African women that are making strides in the accounting profession. This also lays the foundation for more women to take their seat at the table in the future,” she adds.

Ngema says it is critical to find ways to support and empower women throughout the year and not only during women’s month.

Standard Bank says it shares a common goal with AWCA of developing and nurturing future African women leaders.

“Our partnership with AWCA is a natural fit, as they are about growing female African talent and we will continue to seek opportunities and partnerships, in and outside of Women’s Month, that will support this goal,” it adds.

The bank says it hopes to see more growth in the number of African women CAs in the country, and in senior and leadership positions.

“We must continue to support transformation and gender equality in the accounting profession and other professions where gender imbalances exist, to unlock the prosperity of communities and realise growth for everyone on the African continent.”

Nondumiso Lehutso is a Moneyweb intern.