Celebrating the First Female CA

Celebrating the first female CA

It was recently the anniversary of Mary Harris Smith becoming the first female chartered accountant in the world (May 1920). To honour her ICAEW commissioned a painting by Toby Wiggins and her portrait now hangs proudly in Chartered Accountants’ Hall. About time is all we can say!

However, Harris Smith was initially denied membership because she was a woman. In 1885, ICAEW President Charles Fitch Kemp said he would be so embarrassed by the admission of women that he would rather retire than consider it. It was only after the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act was passed in 1919 that she was allowed to become the first female chartered accountant.

Harris Smith set up her own accounting firm in 1887 and in women periodicals she was described as the ‘lady accountant’. Harris Smith was 75 when she was finally admitted to the ICAEW.

Women would have to wait until 1979 before they were elected onto ICAEW Council.