Diversity and Inclusion

Manager Reema Patel Interviewed by the Accounting MOVE Project on CBM Policies Attracting Women to the Firm and DEI Issues

February 27, 2024 – Reema Patel, a manager at Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM) and co-director of D-PATH, the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, was interviewed by Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk, owner of the Accounting MOVE Project, on issues related to CBM policies that attract and retain women, a financial planning process she developed to attract millennials and DEI skepticism. Click here to read more.

Diversity and Inclusion

As CBM has grown in recent years, our firm has also seen a noticeable increase in the diversity of our team. We are proud to have been recognized by the Accounting & Financial and Women’s Alliance as a top firm for equity leadership since 2019, meaning that the composition of our leadership team demonstrates above-average diversity. In late 2023, CBM was also recognized as a top accounting firm for women. Click here to read our most recent recognition.

As a reflection of the strong representation of women and minorities within our team, the firm is composed of:

• 44% of CBM’s firm leadership is female
• 65% of CBM’s staff is female
• 30% of CBM’s team are represented by minorities

D-PATH (“Diversity – Professional Accountants and Advisors Transforming the Horizon”)

To demonstrate CBM’s commitment to increasing the leadership abilities and professional development of minorities and female professionals, CBM launched an internal group called D-PATH, which stands for “Diversity – Professional Accountants and Advisors Transforming the Horizon”.

The group was spearheaded by Patricia Drolet, one of CBM’s former executive vice presidents, the firm’s first woman board chair and the winner of the 2020 Virginia Society of CPAs Ruth Coles Harris Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Award, and composed of several CBM team members to provide educational opportunities for all team members to better understand the importance of diversity and inclusion, and to help them develop respect for all team members regardless of background, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Read more about D-PATH by clicking here.

Diversity and Recruitment

Every team member contributes a different perspective, experience, lifestyle and cultural benefit to the firm. CBM values, respects and supports each and every team member, regardless of his or her ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, education or religion. When we hire a new team member, we do so based solely on the person’s experience, skills and enthusiasm. Joining CBM means joining a team proud of its openness and willingness to welcome individuals from all walks of life. Consider our current opportunities by clicking here.

Diversity and Professional Expertise

One of the drivers behind CBM’s commitment to diversity is our recognition of the outstanding professional talents and accomplishments of all our professionals. In addition to Patricia Drolet’s achievements, our diverse accountants and advisors regularly contribute their expertise to CBM’s ongoing series of complimentary professional education webinars. To learn more about CBM’s upcoming offerings, click the image below.

CBM’s History of Diversity

Our firm has historically championed diverse causes with our expertise, having served as one of the first auditors for the National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood. CBM is also proud to have employed Edna Nick, the first woman to pass the CPA exam in the State of Virginia. Ms. Nick came to work at CBM and became a partner during an amazing 51-year career at the firm. Click below to read more about her account of her career at CBM.