Episode 110

DEI Retreat: a Death Sentence for Accounting Talent?

Why Are Accounting Firms Quietly Dropping DEI?

Accounting firms are making drastic changes to their DEI programs, and not in the way you might think. KPMG has officially ended its "Accelerate 2025" program, following similar moves from Deloitte and others. Meanwhile, governing bodies like AICPA, CIMA, and ACCA are doubling down on DEI’s importance. So, what’s really happening? In this episode, Rob Brown breaks down:

Key Takeaways:

✅ Why KPMG, Deloitte, and others are scaling back DEI

✅ The legal and political forces driving this shift

✅ How these changes impact recruitment and retention

✅ What firms risk by pulling back on DEI initiatives

✅ The burnout crisis hitting DEI professionals in firms

✅ What governing bodies like AICPA & ACCA say about DEI

✅ How accounting leaders should navigate this challenge

Killer Quotes:

💬 "Accounting firms are ditching DEI – is it a smart move or a disaster?"

💬 "Less than half of firms are even tracking DEI progress."

💬 "DEI officers burn out fast—most last just 3 years!"

💬 "The next generation of accountants cares about DEI—ignore it at your own risk."

💬 "If firms aren’t diverse, how will they attract diverse clients and talent?"

💬 "The legal landscape is shifting—but is pulling back the answer?"

💬 "Talent is already scarce. Does ignoring DEI make firms even less attractive?"

You can check out the video version of this with visuals and graphics here on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ZMdh01NB_C0

The Accounting Influencers Podcast, hosted by Rob Brown, is one of the world's leading shows for accounting leaders, professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers.

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About the Podcast

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Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.

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About your host

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown is the founder and host of the Accounting Voices Podcast, the flagship solo show of the Accounting Voices Network. Each episode offers sharp analysis and commentary on the trends, ideas and people shaping the global accounting profession.

Through this Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob helps accounting firm leaders, decision makers and professionals stay relevant and make sense of disruption in areas like AI, automation, M&A, private equity and soft skills beyond the tech. His perspective blends clarity, insight and curiosity, making complex issues relevant and practical for professionals and decision makers across accounting and finance.

He also leads two monthly panel shows, Accounting M&A and Accounting AI, which bring together senior voices to explore consolidation, strategy and the impact of technology on firms and people.

Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and a TEDx speaker whose talk The Personal Brand of You has more than 400,000 views. Over his career he has hosted and moderated more than 1,000 conversations with accounting and fintech leaders worldwide.

Based in Nottingham UK, Rob is a stroke survivor living with epilepsy, a black belt in kickboxing, a decent chess player and an average player of four musical instruments.