Library photo posed by models

Image: John Birdsall/Press Association Images

IRISH BUSINESSES ARE one of the European leaders when it comes to  promoting women to senior financial positions according to a new survey.

Ireland is ranked second in Europe and 11th globally for promoting women to senior financial positions in a poll carried out by Grant Thornton to mark International Women’s Day today.

The company’s International Business Report (IBR) shows that 27 per cent of chief financial officers and financial directors in private Irish businesses are women.

At European level, 16 per cent of senior financial positions are filled by women while globally 22 per cent of chief financial officers or financial directors are women.

Over 11,000 businesses across 39 economies were surveyed including 200 small, medium and large private businesses in Ireland.

The 2011 figures show the overall number of women involved in senior management in Ireland has reduced from 22 per cent to 19 per cent in 2011 which is a global ranking of joint 16th.

Grant Thornton said that this reduction is in-line with the overall reduction in the size of management teams in Ireland.

The company said that in 2004 there were an average of 10 people in management positions in small and medium sized Irish businesses compared to seven in 2011.

The research also showed that Thailand has the highest percentage of women working at a senior level, 45 per cent, with India, the UAE, and Japan scoring lowest with less than 10 per cent of senior management positions held by women.

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