By Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk.
The accounting profession continues to face mounting pressure around talent retention and leadership development. The 2026 Accounting MOVE Project (MOVE), now open for participation, is taking a closer look at one of the most complex and least understood drivers behind those challenges: how firms are (or aren’t) equipped to support people navigating caregiving.
For more than 15 years, MOVE has provided CPA firms with benchmarking data and practical insights on how to attract, retain, and advance women. Each year, the research examines four core drivers of career advancement – Money, Opportunity, Vital Supports, and Entrepreneurship – while also exploring a timely issue shaping the profession.
In 2026, that focus is “Caught in the Middle,” an examination of how caregiving responsibilities are affecting experienced professionals navigating peak career demands alongside responsibilities outside of work.
“Our research continues to show that firms aren’t seeing the full picture when it comes to retention,” said Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk, president of the Accounting MOVE Project. “How firms respond to the caregiving needs of their employees is a critical part of that. It’s not solely a personal issue; it’s shaping who stays, who advances, and ultimately, the strength of a firm’s leadership pipeline.”
When Workplace Conditions Fail Caregivers
Across the profession, mid-career professionals, often women in their peak earning and leadership years, are navigating complex and competing demands shaped by both workplace expectations and responsibilities outside of work, including aging parents, teenage and adult children, and increasing client and leadership expectations.
Prior research underscores the urgency: 63% of firms cited burnout as their top retention issue, with caregiving pressures emerging as a significant contributing factor. The 2026 research builds on that insight to better understand how these competing demands are shaping retention, advancement, and long-term leadership pipelines.
“Being both a caregiver for my elderly aunt and a firm owner and having seen what my staff balanced during the pandemic and continue to manage today, I can attest that this is a business issue,” said Donny Shimamoto, Center for Accounting Transformation. “Our progressive policies that allow time for caregiving have enabled us to retain many of our core people. Firms that don’t understand how this impacts their people will struggle with retention and leadership development in ways they can’t fully explain.”
This research is part of a broader, collaborative effort to better understand caregiving’s impact on the accounting profession, supported by contributors including the Center for Accounting Transformation, the AICPA, the Black Alliance of Colleges & Employers (BACE), and academic researchers from DePaul University and the University of Portland.
Turning Data into Action for Firms
The MOVE Project is designed to give firms more than awareness. It provides a clear view of where their talent pipelines are working and where they are at risk.
All participating firms are eligible for national recognition, including the Best CPA Firms for Women and Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership lists, and firms can participate in three ways:
- Free Survey Participation: Access national benchmarking data and qualify for recognition
- MOVE Snapshot: Focused comparison data and targeted recommendations
- MOVE Scorecard: Comprehensive analysis, firm-specific insights, and a strategic roadmap
Firms that upgrade receive confidential, firm-specific insights, benchmarking data, and best practices drawn from top-performing firms.
“Caregivers have always been part of our organizations, and this research helps bring greater visibility to how workplace conditions impact their experience, ensuring this significant population gets the attention it deserves,” said Shane Lloyd, Chief Inclusion Officer at Baker Tilly.
Early Registration Incentive Available
Firms that register for a Snapshot or Scorecard by April 30, 2026, will receive 10% off those participation tiers.
The survey is expected to launch in mid-April and will remain open through July 31, 2026.
“Understanding retention isn’t just about data, it’s about action,” said Chelsea Sowers, president of the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA). “MOVE gives firms both the insight and the direction they need to respond to the challenges they’re facing today.”
Participation and Next Steps
Firms can learn more and register at: https://accountingmoveproject.com
Research findings and the 2026 Best CPA Firms for Women and Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership lists will be released in October.
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Tags: accounting move, career, caregiving, Firm Management, leadership, survey, talent
