Learning & Development

As a firm, Moss Adams is committed to inclusion and diversity—and this commitment extends to the networks our people maintain individually and collectively. We want to empower our people to feel supported while representing our firm and engage talent from underrepresented communities to find opportunities in our industry.

This year, Moss Adams sponsored four highly regarded conferences supporting underrepresented talent nationwide. We also financially sponsored more than 130 team members to attend these conferences for professional development and meaningful connection with others.

Finding Community

Aurora Varela, senior manager and Black business resource group (BRG) leader, felt validated as one of 26 team members to attend the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) convention. “I didn’t realize how uncomfortable I was in predominantly white spaces until I wasn’t. Being at NABA was like releasing a breath I didn’t know I was holding.”

The LatinX BRG addressed this sentiment of belonging as more than 40 team members participated in this year’s Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) convention. Leaders within the BRG hosted a workshop titled “Navigating Your Identity in the Workplace,” which addressed the challenges of being underrepresented in the corporate world.

Pamela Esparza, senior manager and LatinX BRG leader, was a panelist during the workshop. She confirmed that conference attendees received the presentation well. “As a Latina, I’ve overcome obstacles in my career similar to those faced by other underrepresented professionals,” Pamela said. “I hope our future workshops can continue to spotlight member stories, our BRG’s mission, and encourage more Latinx representation across industries, especially in accounting.”

“In our industry, our services are our people, and that means our people need to be happy,” Aurora shared. “We enhance the bottom line when our professionals feel they belong and are seen for who they are. These conferences bring a voice to those who feel underrepresented in accounting. In the end, more diversity brings more business to Moss Adams.”

Diversifying the Firm

Maintaining a presence at inclusive conferences also helps Moss Adams close the gap in recruiting, retaining, and developing professionals from underrepresented communities.

“We’re showing each of these communities that Moss Adams is a place where they can be themselves,” said senior executive assistant and Pride BRG leader Kristi Moore. “It helps us grow and change as a firm, be more inclusive, and demonstrate to folks in these spaces that we care. Moss Adams is a place where they want to be.”

Kristi was one of fourteen attendees at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit, the most prominent LGBTQ+ workplace equality event in the world. At this year’s summit, the Pride BRG was selected as a finalist for an Outie Award, which recognizes and celebrates individuals, organizational initiatives, and employee resource groups as role models for advancing equity and belonging for LGBTQ+ people in the workplace.

“To be one of three finalists for the New Employee Resource Group Outie Award speaks to the work we’re doing and the impact we’re making not only at Moss Adams but nationally and beyond,” Kristi said. “It’s important to celebrate what we’ve done well even as we recognize there is work left to be done. Both exist at the same time.”

Jennie Ly, senior manager and Asian BRG leader, hopes the firm continues to expand opportunities for underrepresented professionals to connect with others in the industry and beyond. She was one of nearly 50 team members who attended the Ascend conference for Pan-Asian professionals.

“It’s important for the firm to provide these opportunities,” Jennie said. “These events give underrepresented professionals the appreciation and gratitude for being seen, and it allows Moss Adams to diversify perspectives that bring better quality to our services. This helps us diversify representation at the firm, our client portfolio, and the communities we serve.”

Inclusion and Diversity at Moss Adams

Moss Adams is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture where everyone feels like they belong. This means investing in opportunities for our people to find community and mentorship to support their professional development at our firm and beyond.

Learn more about our inclusion and diversity progress on our website.

Go Beyond the Desk

At Moss Adams, we believe in the power of possible to empower our clients and people to pursue success however they define it. Explore stories about our professionals, including their personal achievements, at our Beyond the Desk page.