Women of the Ledger: Wartime Accountants of Britain

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As we approach Remembrance Sunday, the nation prepares to honour the gallant military personnel who served on the battlefield - and the dedicated civilians who kept Britain afloat behind the scenes.

Among these unsung heroes are the women who stepped into the financial world, many for the first time, to keep the wheels of business and banking turning during the darkest days of two world wars. Their stories are often hidden in ledgers, archives and old photographs that remember the people who shaped modern professions such as accountancy.

As a trusted accountant in Cornwall, we are inspired by the timeless values of service, accuracy and dedication that Britain’s wartime accountants upheld to keep the nation running. As we reflect on their legacy during those challenging years, we take pride in carrying the tradition forward - delivering reliable, forward-thinking financial support in the digital age.

A door once closed to women starts to open

The history of accounting as a formal profession dates back to the 19th century, when women were systematically excluded from most forms of professional life. While bookkeeping and basic financial roles were often filled by women in small businesses and households, professional bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales were resolutely male.

Charles Fitch Kemp, President of the ICAEW in 1895, openly opposed the admission of women. He even said he would rather resign than see a woman become a member! Such views were not unusual at the time. This rejection of women was woven into the very fabric of institutional accounting, making it an uphill battle for any female hoping to break through.

The role of women in WW1: changing the narrative

Then came the First World War and with it, an urgent need for change. As men enlisted and left their posts in every corner of civilian life, women stepped into roles that had previously been closed to them, including in finance and accountancy. This was a turning point for women’s involvement in WW1 and society as a whole.

By 1914, banks began recruiting female employees in large numbers to fill vacancies left by men going to The Front. Nearly a third of Barclays' male workforce left for service, and women kept the bank running in their absence. Far from being temporary stand-ins, many of them proved themselves invaluable.

In November 1914, the first female clerks were officially recruited to the War Office Finance Branch. By January 1915, women were staffing army pay offices across the UK, taking on critical financial tasks and often doing so under significant pressure. Appointed to oversee these financial departments held prestigious ranks equivalent to lieutenants and captains, such as lady superintendents - a remarkable testament to their authority and competence.

Mary Harris Smith: a quiet revolution

One woman’s story stands out amidst this backdrop of social change. Mary Harris Smith, born in 1844, was the first woman to be admitted to the ICAEW in May 1920. Finally, at the age of 75, she became a Fellow - decades after first applying to join the profession. Her career in accounting began when she studied mathematics as a teenager, took bookkeeping classes through the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women, and worked for both private firms and charitable organisations. Her skills, reputation and professionalism led to requests from multiple institutions for her to audit their accounts.

In 1919, after the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, she reapplied to the ICAEW. Her application could no longer be lawfully denied, and the following year, the profession finally welcomed her.

Second World War: further steps forward

As World War Two erupted, history repeated itself. Once again, men left their desks for the battlefield, and women stepped in. By 1939, there were around 120 qualified female chartered accountants in the UK. As the war progressed, more were trained and employed across banking and accountancy roles. At Barclays, some 6,000 women were on the payroll by 1941. For the first time, offices were modified to accommodate them, including installing separate toilets and improving working conditions.

One standout figure was Miriam Pease, who became assistant staff manager at Barclays in 1941, with special responsibility for women. Her 12-month review of workplace conditions was groundbreaking. She championed improvements in lighting, ventilation, sanitation and job security. She even advocated for facilities to help with morale and health such as sports clubs, social rooms and pest control to combat the rats that were common in workplaces during the war.

Though women were still rarely given official managerial titles, the reality was that many were managing entire branches, especially in smaller towns. As noted in a 1944 Barclays memo, some branches operated entirely with female staff “carefully chosen for the purpose”.

Returning from war and moving forward

By the end of WWII, around one-quarter of all ICAEW members had served in the armed forces. Many others had worked behind the scenes, supporting government ministries, war industries and essential civil operations. Women had proven their worth again.

Although the post-war years saw a push to return to traditional gender roles, the seed had been sown. The accounting profession could no longer deny women their place. Over the coming decades, particularly through the 1960s and 1970s, increasing numbers entered the field. Today, we see near equal representation in accountancy training programmes - a long overdue result of a century of persistence.

From past to present: a tradition continued in Cornwall

At DL Accounts, we carry the torch lit by these early pioneers. Our family-run firm has been serving clients for more than two decades from our offices in St Austell. We offer a full range of tax services in Cornwall, from self-assessment support to comprehensive company accounts, all with a personal, approachable touch.

What unites us with the women of the wartime ledger is more than just our profession - it’s a shared ethos. Accuracy, trust and unwavering commitment to service are values that run deep in accounting, especially in times of uncertainty. Whether balancing books against a backdrop of conflict, or submitting digital tax returns under today’s modern economic pressures, accountants provide a vital function that keeps society moving.

This Remembrance Sunday, we will be joining the community to remember not just those on the front lines, but also the thousands of unnamed women who managed payrolls, handled war finances and ensured the nation’s economy didn’t collapse during two world wars. They weren’t just bookkeepers; they were quiet pioneers who understood what it meant to serve. Their legacy is there in every ledger we open.