Further evidence on the role of gender in financial performance (original) (raw)

Using a sample of 160 sole proprietors and controlling for other determinants of performance, we hypothesize and find support for the view that gender is not a significant direct explanation of financial performance differences among small accounting practices. The control variables we employ are practice characteristics, motivations, and individual owner characteristics. Our results indicate that although financial performance appears to be significantly different for females' and males' sole proprietorships, these performance differences are explained by several variables other than gender directly. At the same time we find that gender moderates the effects of other practice and personal characteristics on financial performance. One of the more interesting results is that women with a stronger motivation to establish a public practice to balance work and family experienced more positive financial outcomes, while for men the same motivation reduced financial performance. Dr. Collins-Dodd is currently associate professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University. Her research interests include marketing and export strategy of high-technology small to medium-size enterprises (SMEs), brand equity, and cause-related marketing in addition to the role of gender in SMEs. Dr. Gordon is associate professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University. Her current research interests include examination of the characteristics of successful small business owners, accounting for the environment and sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility. Dr. Smart is associate professor of business strategy and is director of the Executive M.B.A. Program in the Faculty of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University. Her current research interests are entrepreneurship, strategic positioning in hypercompetitive industries, and the role of dynamic capabilities in establishing competitive advantage. *Acknowledgements: The authors would like to express their appreciation to the certified general accountants who took the time to participate in this study and to thank the Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia for providing access to its membership. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Faculty of Business Administration's Accounting Development Program at Simon Fraser University.