Data from The Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity shows that all of the Big Four accounting firmsErnst & Young (No. 5),PricewaterhouseCoopers(No. 3),KPMG(No. 29) andDeloitte(No. 8)face similar challenges in diversifying their U.S. workforces. Of all U.S. employees for these companies in aggregate, only 3.9 percent are Black, 3.5 percent are Latino and 0.22 percent are American Indian. Asians, in contrast, account for 15.7 percent of management positions at the Big Four.
Developing a pipeline of candidates is the key to getting more talent from these traditionally underrepresented groups. Starting really early in that process, before students graduate or even choose their majors, will help your company gain a step up on the competition.
For example, Ernst & Young has hosted formal and one-off programs to inspire students on both the high-school and college levels to seek professions in accounting.
