Accenture’s working mothers know that they are regarded as a strength of the company—reflected in the example of high performance they set both on the job and caring for their families.

Working Mother magazine knows it, too, naming Accenture to its “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” list for the seventh year in a row.

"We've long known that our inclusion and diversity efforts strengthen our ability to be a high-performance business, and this continued recognition from Working Mother reinforces that,” says LaMae Allen deJongh, managing director-US Human Capital & Diversity. “At Accenture, we understand the challenges of balancing multiple roles and responsibilities, and we believe that, by creating a culture where women and, in fact, all employees can succeed, we will continue to compete, grow and innovate."

To strike their individual balance between home and work, US women employees—like Jenni Oaks and Karen Brennan-Holton—have used a variety of flexible work arrangements over the past year: telecommuting/work from home (83 percent), flextime (31.7 percent), modified work week (23.4 percent), part-time hours (7.8 percent), among other scheduling options. Forty-six percent of Accenture US women are classified as “working mothers.”

Sharon Klun, manager of Accenture’s US work/life initiatives, notes programs such as Lifeworks, a 24/7 career and home resource and referral service, Live Well, healthy living tools, and the back up dependent care program, where each employee receives 40 hours of care each year at a discounted rate of $2-4 per hour, as key to this year’s appearance on the 100 best list.

“Accenture understands the value of retaining our people and helping them develop successful careers,” she said. “We take talent management seriously and work to create a culture where working moms, and all employees, can succeed."

Working Mother says that it “loves” that Accenture working mothers help one another climb the ladder, citing the company’s strong network of groups for women.

“A deeply entrenched women’s interests group with 27 chapters boasts more than 5,000 members, while the national women’s networking group offers a rotating slate of monthly events, include mentoring meet-and-greets, skill refining seminars and power breakfasts for newly hired or promoted executives,” the publications writes.

Jenni and Karen’s stories
Jenni Oaks, a senior manager with Accenture’s Grow America initiative, says that Accenture’s flexible work options essentially saved her career. Oaks was in her tenth year at Accenture when her career came to a crossroads with the premature birth of her twins. With the support of her managing director, her full-time role was quickly transitioned to another person so she could focus exclusively on her newborns.

“While I was on maternity leave I contemplated my career,” Oaks said. “I confirmed that I did have more that I wanted to give to Accenture. I still wanted to make a difference here, but I just wasn’t willing to do it at the same capacity and pace.” For the past three years Oaks has stayed on a part-time, flexible 20-hour-a-week schedule, appreciative of the continued support of her leadership and colleagues.

“The spirit of flexibility and people programs Accenture offers make it work for me,” Oaks says. “I am able to contribute to the company while keeping the family life I desire. I constantly evaluate whether I am still achieving my family and career goals, and the answer continues to be yes!”

Brennan-Holton, a senior executive in Management Consulting, says Accenture supports her personal recipe for integrating work and home life.

“I have two sons, Kieran, 7, and Patrick, 4, and have been able to manage my schedule in order not to miss major activities at school and pre-school,” she said. “I have learned to integrate work and family and this is our ‘normal.’ Accenture have given me the opportunity to grow and develop my career while being an active and ‘engaged’ mother.”