South Africa: Why Isn't the Accounting Profession More Diverse? Research Points to the Real Levers of Change

What the report says

An analysis published by The Conversation Africa and distributed by AllAfrica argues that South Africa’s accounting profession has struggled to become more diverse despite years of mentoring, scholarships and student support programmes. The piece, by accounting professor Sedzani Musundwa of the University of South Africa, says the central issue is not only whether talented students can enter university, but whether institutions and workplaces allow them to thrive after qualification.

The article draws on a review of 81 peer-reviewed studies on diversity and marginalisation in accounting education and practice. It says earlier research and interventions often treated under-representation as an individual challenge, focusing on helping students adapt to existing systems. More recent findings, according to the author, shift attention to the culture of universities, employers and professional bodies, including language barriers, limited networks, lack of role models and pressure to conform to dominant norms.

The analysis cites broader global context from the World Economic Forum’s 2025 gender gap report, which the article says shows slow progress toward parity. It also notes that women outperform men in tertiary education globally but remain underrepresented in senior management. In the South African context, the article says progress on racial and gender representation in accounting has been slower than expected.

The takeaway is that support programmes still matter, but they are not enough on their own. The author argues that lasting change requires reforming recruitment, promotion, curriculum design and institutional culture so that diverse students and professionals can belong and advance.