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Flexibility of Consulting Work Draws Women to Industry
February 27 , 2006
The Business Report & Journal
By Jennifer Putnam
Savanna, Georgia, February 27, 2006
With three small children under her wing – any one of whom could get sick at any time – tax consultant Amy Coursey knew she would have to find something flexible when she went back to work 10 years ago.
At first she started working part-time, finding income-tax credits for her former employer, Gulf Stream Aerospace in Savannah. But when she discovered four years ago that many other companies in Savannah weren’t taking advantage of the retraining tax credits, she started her own Tax Credit Consulting business.
The flexibility associated with consulting is drawing many women to the field, local consultants say. Jim Lansing, president of PATCA, said that the number of women consultants is increasing, especially in training, marketing, public relations, human resources and legal services.
Coursey, who has been an accountant for 15 years, said that she wanted to be able to pick up her children from school and take them to the doctor.
“That was a driving force,” Coursey said of why she started the consulting business. “That’s what women are looking for. It’s not so much money or benefits.”
And the business is growing. Coursey now has more than 40 clients in several states. Although Coursey’s work schedule is flexible, it is not optional. Her workload is especially busy between September and the end of the year when the tax credit forms are due.
Coursey said she has to meet her deadlines and all work must be done correctly. “People think you don’t work as much, but you just work different hours,” Coursey said.
But Coursey said her clients aren’t concerned about what hours she works as long as the work is done and done well.
“They want a high-quality product,” Coursey said. “Clients just want results.” Flexibility also drew Savannah consultant Lisa Yackel into the business when she considered what she wanted to do with her retirement.
Yackel plans to retire in three years from Case Veterinary Hospital in Savannah.Meanwhile, she is building a consulting practice in veterinary management consulting called Bird’s Eye View Veterinary Consulting. Yackel started the business three years ago, drawing on 30 years in the field and 17 years in management.
She takes one client per quarter. She said she has to turn down business because she is still busy with her full-time job. Yackel said, as veterinary practices grow, they have a huge need for human resources services such as hiring and personnel development. She also helps them choose software systems to use and develop staff schedules.
“Veterinarians as a rule are generally focused on medicine and caring for pets and not so much on business,” Yackel said. Yackel said she is hoping to be a grandmother by the time she retires and is looking forward to being able to spend time with her grandchildren while still bringing home a comparable paycheck.
Spending time with her children was also the motivating force for Jennifer Abshire when she started her public relations consulting business in 1997.
“I recommend it highly for anyone who is creative and has to have flexibility,” Abshire said. Abshire has two young children and said she wanted to be home after school to make sure they finished their homework and music lessons.
“I only have a certain number of years that I’m going to have that with my children,” Abshire said. Abshire said that, although she works full time, her hours are flexible. She also is able to work from home, leaving more time for her family.
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