International Women’s Day 2024: The Story of Mary Harris Smith, FCA

International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action to accelerate women’s equality.

Women have struggled to enter the accounting and tax profession since its conception. Many professions were (and still are) those of an all-boys club, and so they did not want to welcome women into the ranks of their organisations. In 1895, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (‘ICAEW’) president, Charles Fitch Kemp, commented that he would be so embarrassed by the admission of women and that he would rather retire than consider it.

The passing of the Sexual Disqualification (Removal) Act in 1919 made it illegal to bar women from any civil profession or vocation. On 12 November 1919, Mary Harris Smith was welcomed to the Society of Accountants and Auditors as the first female honorary member. On 5 May 1920, at the age of 75, Mary was admitted as a fellow of the ICAEW and became the first female chartered accountant.

The story of Mary Harris Smith

Mary was born on 27 November 1844 in London. Recognised for her brilliance in mathematics, Mary qualified with a masters in mathematics from Kings College School at just sixteen. She went on to take some of the first bookkeeping classes run by the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women in 1860. Mary worked for a mercantile firm in London for nine years before going to work as an accountant for the Royal School of Art Needlework.

In 1887, Mary opened her own accounting firm as ‘M. Harry Smith, Accountant and Auditor’ except in women’s periodicals, where she described herself as a ‘lady accountant’.

In 1887, Mary sought to join the Society of Accountants and Auditors, but the president blocked this application, and so she was rejected. In 1891, Mary applied to be a fellow of the ICAEW. Despite a recommendation from the applications committee, the solicitor of the organisation said that she was not eligible as the royal charter only referred to males; she was therefore rejected on account of her gender. Mary requested to sit the institute’s exams in 1896, but she was refused entry.

In 1919, following the passing of the Representation of the People Act 1918 and the Sexual Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, Mary applied again to the Society of Accountants and Auditors (32 years after her initial application), which had updated its rules, however, she was rejected on the grounds that she had not passed the organisation’s exams. However, on 12 November 1919, she was made an honorary member of the Society of Accountants and Auditors. On 5 May 1920, she was finally admitted as a fellow of the ICAEW and so became the first female chartered accountant.

At the age of 89, Mary Harris Smith FCA, died in a medical nursing home in St Leonards-on-Sea on 7 August 1934.

Legacy of Mary Harris Smith

In 2019, nearly 100 years following Mary’s admission, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales welcomed its second female president, Fiona Wilkinson. Upon her appointment, she announced that one of her aims was to celebrate the centenary of Mary becoming a chartered accountant and member. On 5 May 2020, exactly 100 years following Mary’s admission, the institute announced the commissioning of a blue plaque in commemoration of Mary Harris Smith. It was displayed on the City of London Magistrates Court, on the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Bucklersbury, close to the site of her now-demolished office. 

A full list of pioneering women in London who have received blue plaques can be found here.

In 2019, 100 years following the passing of the Sexual Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 and the subsequent admission of Mary Harris Smith to the Society of Accountants and Auditors, our very own Cate Jackson sat her final exam, meeting the requirements for membership to the Chartered Institute of Taxation as a Chartered Tax Advisor. 

In March 2020, the ICAEW announced that women represent 29% of the ICAEW’s overall membership. While it would be amazing to see more women entering the profession and STEM, it is important to recognise pioneering women like Mary Harris Smith who paved the way for each and every female member of the ICAEW, ACCA and CTA.