In contemporary times, the world has continued to experience changes in different sectors that touch on various issues in the economic, social or political setups. Diversity is among the essential differences that organizations and institutions continue to experience and shape their daily operations and decisions made, and the accounting field is not exempted. Globalization concept has resulted in a global culture where diversity is critical for any organization to consider in the liberated markets that experience increased competitions in the business world. Affirmative action championed mainly by civil societies has also played a significant role. It has contributed positively to the noted changes in the present world. It tries to address the diverse challenges that include discrimination and empowerment of the minority groups in attempts to address and shape the status quo as had been experienced in the past. However, this paper discusses different concerns related to diversity in the accounting field.
A. Description of a social or global issue related to issues of diversity.
Organizations and professional associations such as AICPA have confronted the subject of diversity positively. It acknowledges its source and has tried to put up measures that address the concerns emphatically including the minority concerns and views related to the professions of accounting. The past structural sets up and organizations set up as noted in the history of the US such as slavery among others also acknowledged by other professions majorly played a more significant part. It created the prolonged experience of diversity challenge in the past decades such as racial discrimination and limited opportunity not only for the minority groups such as African- American and Hispanics among others but also on gender matters that has seen limited opportunities for the female gender experienced beyond the accounting field. Minority groups in the accounting field that include Asian/Pacific descent, African-Americans and Hispanics have continued to experience challenges in enhancing their profession and careers in the accounting fields a factor linked to diversity challenges that include racial discrimination (Dey et al., 2019). The mentioned groups have experienced limited access to resources in the accounting field that includes but not limited to difficulty in advancing careers and access to partnerships opportunities when compared to other races in the accounting field.
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B. Description of the target population of the issue.
The targeted population impacted by racial discrimination issues mostly constitutes the minority groups in the society in the accounting field. They come specifically from the minority groups that include African-American, Hispanics and Asian/Pacific descent among others. The majority (whites) holds over 90% in the accounting profession partnerships while the minority groups hold less than 10% even in scenarios where the minorities are projected in the future years to constitute more than half the population in the year 2043 (Ross, 2014).
The target population (minority groups) have experienced great disadvantage in the society tracing the history of the American people and the past legislation and laws that put them at a difficulty in accessing resources not only linked to accounting but also other fields that touch on the political as well as social aspects. The structural frameworks put in place that include difficulty in accessing education opportunities as well as economic opportunities such as factors of production that include capital and land sustained the disadvantage that the minority had in the American society. It partly contributed to the faster rise and spread of the civil society movements that advocated and advanced for changes in the status quo as experienced presently. Different initiatives have been proposed and implemented that target to help the minority groups (target population) as part of affirmative action from within AICPA and also from without. It focuses on addressing the negative impact experienced by the minority in the accounting field and beyond linked to racial discrimination (AICPA.Org, 2019).
C. Explanation of how the chosen issue relates to a topic discussed in this course.
Diversity is a sensitive issue and topic in the present global context where. It helps organizations positively enhance ease of meeting set business and organizational goals. As a worldwide trend, organizations that portray the global picture in terms of diversity in the accounting field and beyond help attract and retain the best talents available as well as expand their client base as it portrays a positive image in the business and corporate world. Racial discrimination, hence, should be addressed objectively and diversity inclusion embraced by individuals, organizations, and institutions to help them meet their corporate and business goals in the short and long-term. The social or global issue that touches on racial discrimination in the accounting field relates to topics that touch on diversity and the benefits that firms including accounting experience when they embrace diversity in the workplace that includes ease of recruitment and retention among other benefits.
The topic provides a practical example of how the concepts discussed and presented in the subject are applied. It further enables deeper interpretation and understanding of the topic beyond diversity (racial discrimination) and how it impacts business and corporate world that include professional associations such as AICPA among others.
D. Assessment of how the chosen issue is impacting the target population.
Racial discrimination in the accounting world has resulted in different experience and impacts on the targeted population. It has seen measures established and put in place to address the concerned by the target population objectively. It has made it difficult for the minority groups to advance in their careers of accounting by limiting them from access to opportunities and resources that include partnerships and networking that can enhance career growth. AICPA acknowledged the challenge and formed the National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion (NCDI) responsible for making diversity and inclusion a priority in the accounting profession. NCDI has impacted the accounting industry in three tiers that include the accounting students, accounting professional and also considering firms (AICPA.Org, 2018). They strive to empower the minority group and address the diversity challenge realized in the profession positively. The number of students from an ethnic minority that enroll for accounting courses has increased through initiatives such as scholarship to the targeted groups. The number of credentialed professionals for the minority group has also increased as well as increased firms and employers with diversity inclusion programs. The racial discrimination challenge in the accounting profession had impacted the minority groups negatively by limiting their access to opportunities and resources but the efforts presently put in place by the professional body has helped addressed the issues positively. It has led to positive challenges realized currently in the accounting field profession.
References
AICPA.Org. (2018). “AICPA National Commission on Diversity & Inclusion.” Retrieved from https://www.aicpa.org/career/diversityinitiatives/aicpanationalcommissionondiversity.html
AICPA.Org. (2019). “Diversity and Inclusion Resources for Firms.” Retrieved from https://www.aicpa.org/career/diversityinitiatives/resourcesforfirms.html
Dey, M. et al. (2019, Jan 1). “Challenges continue for African-American accountants.” Journal of Accountancy. Retrieved from https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2019/jan/challenges-continue-for-african-american-accountants.html
Ross, F. (2014, Aug). “A pipeline for diversity.” Retrieved from https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2014/aug/aicpa-diversity-20139181.html
