Around 90% of male accountants believe they have been adversely affected by attempts to create a more favourable working environment for women according to a survey by www.careersinaudit.com.

The research reveals that many men believe that women are being promoted even if they do not deserve it. However, 76% of men surveyed believed that a “glass ceiling” preventing women from progressing does still exist.

It found that two-thirds of all those surveyed gave the impossibility of raising a family as the main reason so few women are promoted to partner level in accounting firms.

The study found that 22% of female and 24% of male respondents see their career objective as climbing the corporate ladder as far possible. More men emphasise earning money (22%), compared to women (10%).

Max Williamson, chief executive of Careers in Audit, says: “There is a lot of work to be done within the profession to iron out the mistrust, misunderstandings and differences of perception that currently exist between the sexes. Senior managers need to take the lead and voice genuine support for such policies. They must create an environment in which women do not feel ostracised for having a family.”