Work and Family Influences on Departure from Public Accounting

This research examined work and family influences on the decision to leave the field of public accounting. Women were more likely than men to depart public accounting. However, contrary to prediction, the reason for the sex difference in departure rate was not because women experienced greater family pressures than men, but rather because women had less of a desire to be promoted to partner than men. Moreover, women and men left public accounting for similar reasons, which were more likely to be work related than family related. Areas for future research and implications for the profession of public accounting were discussed.