Celebrating AFWA GR Women's History
To celebrate Women’s History Month, it is only fitting to highlight the glass-shattering ASWA leader, Miss Julia Norse, CPA. Julia Norse founded the Grand Rapids Chapter of ASWA in June 1943. The Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA) was formerly known as the American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA). At that time, she was the only woman holding a certified public license in Grand Rapids. Women were facing considerable barriers in gaining entrance to educational programs and accounting professions to advance their careers in the then male-dominated industry. This was bolstered by the economic havoc that remained from the Great Depression. Leaders such as Julia Norse, CPA empowered other women to pursue their career aspirations and achieve success in their profession.
While going through our old chapter records, I came across a print-out of a 1945 radio interview with Julia. It was an “Around the Town” segment on Station WJEF. The interviewer aptly introduced her:
“She is the only woman certified public accountant in Grand Rapids; and one of the very few in Michigan. As though pioneering vocationally were not enough, she inaugurated the thriving local chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants. In a few brief weeks our city’s industries became aware of the organizations, and the contribution it could make to management”.
Within the interview, Julia Norse, CPA discusses how she came into the profession of accountancy. She mentioned that a friend of hers was a bookkeeper and recommended her for a bookkeeping position. In another instance, a different friend informed her of night school courses that “would be of direct help” to her. When I read her response, I couldn’t help but feel like that is exactly what AFWA is all about – women empowering other women to advance and be successful in their profession.
Later in the interview, the radio host asked, “Why aren’t there more women CPAs?”, to which Miss Julia Norse responded:
“Because most states have a three-year public accounting experience requirement in addition to the educational and other requirements. Until recently, most public accounting firms were reluctant to hire women, and so it was impossible for them to obtain the necessary experience. But that has changed considerably, and now public accountants wish there were more women CPAs”.
Here’s images of the actual 1945 interview:
