Survey now open.
By CPA Trendlines
How does life outside of work impact your career? That question is at the heart of Beyond the Ledger: The Caregiving & Life Events Study (officially, The Impact of Caregiving & Life Events on the Accounting and Allied Professions). Many professionals are caring for a child, a parent, a spouse, or someone else while they work, and many are also coping with major life events such as illness, loss, or financial strain. This study will examine how common these experiences are across the profession and how they affect careers and the pipeline.
The study is led by Stephani Mason, PhD, CPA, associate professor of accounting and MIS at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business, Claire Costin, PhD, CPA, associate professor at the University of Portland’s School of Business, and Dereck Barr-Pulliam, PhD, CPA, CIA, associate professor at the University of Louisville’s College of Business. The research team also includes assistant professors Grisel Lopez-Alvarez, PhD, at North Central College; Matthew Evans, PhD, CMA, at Florida State University; and Amy Mathews, PhD, CPA, at Auburn University.
“At a time when the accounting and finance profession is navigating evolving talent challenges and changing workforce expectations, caregiving and major life events are among the least understood reasons people step back or leave. It’s crucial that employers understand their impact on the workforce. We are asking now, after the tax deadline, because the profession is making decisions about its future right now and needs evidence, not guesses,” Mason explained.
The researchers want to hear from at least 8,000 current and former accounting, finance, and related professionals nationwide. Participation is encouraged whether or not respondents have caregiving responsibilities or have experienced a significant personal event.
Barr-Pulliam, the department chair at Louisville, said, “My research examines how professionals solve complex problems, and one thing we rarely measure is what is going on in their lives while they solve them. Accounting is a proven path to upward mobility, and building the infrastructure to support it requires that evidence. I encourage everyone in the profession, new or seasoned, current or former, to participate, so universities can strengthen their curriculum and support systems and companies can sharpen their people development programs.”
The survey is now open and closes December 18, 2026. It takes about 30 minutes to complete and collects no individually identifying data from respondents. Survey questions cover willingness to disclose these circumstances at work, repercussions from disclosure, as well as burnout, workplace responsiveness to personal difficulty, job and profession turnover intent, and how caregiving and major life events affect workload and advancement.
“We know the survey asks for real time, and we don’t take that lightly,” Costin said. “Careful questions and enough detail are how we make the findings both rigorous and useful, so the profession has an evidence base for decisions about policy, culture, and talent.” She added, “We are grateful to everyone who takes the time.”
Built with the profession’s research partners
The study draws on five organizations that have led research on the profession’s people and pipeline:
- The Center for Accounting Transformation, an organization that helps accountants, auditors, and tax practitioners adopt the changes the profession needs for the future.
- Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS), whose research has examined the CPA pipeline, why accounting professionals leave, and how workplace culture shapes careers, helped lay the groundwork for this study.
- The Accounting MOVE Project, an annual research and benchmarking initiative that examines the factors affecting women’s advancement and leadership in public accounting firms.
- AICPA, the world’s largest member association representing the CPA profession, has helped develop the survey through its Women’s Initiatives focus area and serves as a key stakeholder in the research.
- Business Alliance of Colleges and Employers, which helped convene the initial focus groups with veterans, adult and non-traditional students, and professionals with disabilities to understand employee challenges.
“Many people don’t realize how a career in accounting can provide great work-life integration, including the flexibility to be a caregiver, while still doing meaningful work—even on a part-time basis. Most accountants are also natural caregivers and play a role in their own extended family’s financial well-being and care coordination. I’m excited for the insights that this research will provide both about our profession’s role in caregiving, but also how we can make our profession even more attractive for those who are called to be a caregiver,” said Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, inspiration architect at the Center for Accounting Transformation.
“We spend a lot of time talking about attracting people to accounting. We also need to understand what helps them stay and what makes that difficult. This research can help employers better understand how life outside work shapes career decisions and where their support could make a difference,” said Kari Natale, CAE, chief operating and strategy officer at the Illinois CPA Society.
“Our 2026 MOVE research found that firms are already feeling the impact of caregiving on schedules, advancement, turnover, and the leadership pipeline, but they aren’t yet measuring what it costs. By hearing directly from professionals about their experiences, this research can help firms better understand where caregiving and major life events are affecting careers and where changes could make a difference,” says Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk, president of the Accounting MOVE Project.
“Many professionals are balancing demanding careers with equally important responsibilities outside of work, including caring for children, aging parents, family members, and loved ones. As the accounting profession continues to evolve, it is critical that we understand how caregiving responsibilities influence career decisions, workplace experiences, and long-term retention. By gathering these insights, we can develop meaningful tools, resources, and strategies that help organizations better support caregivers while building a stronger, more sustainable profession for future generations,” says Crystal Cooke, director of diversity and inclusion at AICPA & CIMA.
“BACE supports research on talent retention and recruitment, and we want to help firms support the partners and staff who are caregivers, including leaders with changing family demands, non-traditional students, and military and veteran professionals. This study will give firms evidence to act on, and organizations like BACE offer resources to help them do it,” said Shannon Stone-Winding, BACE.
Reaching professionals across the country
The survey link is being shared with professionals through Beta Alpha Psi; Business Alliance of Colleges and Employers; Global Institute of Internal Auditors; Global CFO Council; Association of Chartered Certified Accountants; Government Finance Officers Association; National Association of State Boards of Accountancy; American Society of Appraisers; National Association of Enrolled Agents; National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts; American Academy of Attorney-CPAs; Financial Executives International; Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance; Alliance of Black Women Accountants; BV Resources; and numerous state CPA societies, including Illinois, California, New Jersey, Greater Washington (DC), and the Virgin Islands. The researchers are also open to other organizations sharing the survey. Responses go directly to the research team.
Results will be shared in aggregate
The findings will be reported only in aggregate. No individual or employer identifying information is collected.
What happens next
The team plans to release initial descriptive findings and a preview of a forthcoming special report in February 2027, in time for National Caregivers’ Day. Full results will follow in the special report, as well as in peer-reviewed academic publications.