As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we look back into its history and see that International Women’s Day was established in 1911 – the same year as Ernest Royce started our accountancy practice, Royce Peeling Green. We are very proud to celebrate the achievements of the many women who have made a difference at RPG since 1911, and those who will continue to push boundaries and make a difference into the future.
In celebration of International Women’s Day we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Dutton, the first female Group Board Director at RPG Chartered Accountants and Annabel Howarth, recently promoted to the position of Manager in RPG’s Business Services team. Carolyn and Annabel look back at the people and events that have inspired their lives and careers.
Carolyn Dutton
Carolyn joined RPG as an Associate in 2013, becoming RPG Chartered Accountants’ first female Group Board Director in 2022. Carolyn is jointly responsible for RPG’s Business Services Team which provides accountancy services to our clients.
“I was encouraged to be independent from a young age, not an approach that was necessarily adopted in other families at that time in the 1970’s and 80’s. My mother was a massive inspiration to me because my father was away in the army much of the time and so she got on with everything! And she used to tell me stories of her travel adventures with her cousin in the 1960’s which were ground breaking at the time. Mrs Thatcher was PM when I was in primary school and, regardless of her politics, she was a massive inspiration to all girls and women, demonstrating what they too could achieve.
“My father worked for a haulage company when he left the army and as a young teenager I was given a Saturday job there sorting out the delivery notes. Working in that all male environment gave me huge resilience and taught me how to stand up for myself!
“I always liked numbers and had planned to train to become a maths teacher having secured a place at university after gaining my BTEC in Business and Finance, but I was then given an opportunity by the female college head to go to an interview for an accounts trainee at a local firm, and I have worked in accountancy ever since. Working in what was a male dominated environment in the early 90’s was tough but I took it all in my stride and just worked hard to gain my colleagues’ respect for my achievements. The attitudes of the time are seen as unacceptable now but dealing with it taught me a lot and certainly made me stronger.
“It doesn’t always come naturally for women to speak up and stand up ourselves, but it’s something we still need to teach ourselves to do. Happily I think it is becoming the norm for men also to adapt their behaviours and understand female traits but there is still a way to go to eliminate sub-conscious bias.
“In my current role I have responsibility for the smooth running of RPG’s Business Services team with 30+ people and I hope I show the younger generation that you can achieve the job you want irrespective of your gender but you do have to be brave, work hard and go for it. RPG is a great environment where everyone can succeed if they work hard and deliver. I also have my own portfolio of clients, providing advice primarily to owner managed businesses and charities. I have a lot of female clients and I very much enjoying working with them to help them achieve their business goals and dreams.”
Annabel Howarth
Annabel was promoted to the position of Manager in RPG’s Business Services team in February 2025 having joined the firm as a Semi-Senior in October 2021. Annabel completed her studies whilst working, achieving her ACCA qualification in October 2023 and is now a participant in the DFK International Emerging Leaders programme.
“I have been given the opportunity at RPG to continue to progress and be supported in developing my dream career as an accountant. As a young female leader I hope to inspire other young women to begin their career journey, work hard and achieve their goals.
“I have had some amazing opportunities to meet great people and network with people from around the world. I have recently been to Belfast and Lisbon with DFK International to attend their Emerging Leader Conferences, hosted by Sue Mitchell. The conferences have inspired me to grow and develop, and they create a wonderful environment to meet like-minded people and have some thought provoking discussions. I am very much looking forward to the next conference in Sheffield later this year, to reconnect with other emerging leaders and meet some new faces too.
“My biggest inspiration throughout my life has been my mum. Not only has she been the most fabulous mum to me and my brother, she has also had a very successful career in finance. With two young children, my mum went back to university to complete her diploma in finance management, to allow her to progress to the next level in her career. She inspires me every single day to be the best version of myself and always achieve my goals in life. If I can be half the woman she is one day, I will be very proud.”
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