“The good, the bad and the ugly” of career advancement experiences of female management accountants in Ghana

Purpose This study explores the career advancement experiences of female management accountants in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a qualitative approach and adopted an interpretive phenomenological research design. The participants were purposively selected. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants, and the data were thematically analyzed. Findings Three thematic areas, such as “the good”, “the bad” and “the ugly”, illustrate the career advancement experiences of female management accountants. The provision of training and development opportunities, equal opportunity and inclusivity, and career growth and promotion represent “the good” as a theme. The existence of work-life balance struggles, inadequate support for career progression, and undefined career progression paths embody “the bad” theme. The presence of gender-based career limitations, inadequate structural support for career growth and less proactive efforts on inclusivity characterize “the ugly” theme. Research limitations/implications A major limitation of this phenomenological study is its subjectivity, as it relied solely on participants' personal experiences and self-reports. Practical implications Human resource practitioners could organize regular diversity training and mentoring programs to create a more equitable and supportive work environment for female management accountants. Social implications The insights from findings could inform the government's policy development on gender-sensitive interventions in Ghana. Originality/value Drawing on gendered organization theory (GOT) the current study shows how structural and sociocultural mechanisms hinder women's career progression in management accounting profession in Ghana.