At Slate Accounts, getting our clients’ finances in order is only the first step. The real win is helping people understand what those numbers mean for their business. So, this International Women’s Day, we’re setting the numbers aside to introduce you to three of the women who help make this happen.
The finance industry has historically been a difficult space for women to advance in. Even now, while women make up 53% of the broader financial and insurance services workforce in Australia, they hold only 37% of top management positions. In India, we see a similar trend with an overall lower participation rate. Women represent approximately 21.7% of employees in the Indian financial services sector, and make up only 15.9% of key management personnel.
At Slate Accounts, the story looks different. Our team of 40+ specialists across Melbourne, Sydney, and Jaipur is led and shaped by women at every level. In our Jaipur office in particular, women in leadership sit well above industry averages, the result of a culture where career ambition and personal responsibilities aren’t treated as competing forces.
Here are their stories and advice.
Suman Jakhar | Operations Manager (Jaipur)
MBA in HR, B.Sc in Biology, and a Ph.D.
Suman joined Slate in 2017 and has since become one of the most formative influences on how the business operates. Her instinct for ‘pastoral care’ – ensuring that efficiency never comes at the expense of the people delivering it – runs through everything she does. She sees a business the way a biologist might: as a living system. If the people and the processes fall out of sync, the whole thing is impacted.
“In Operations, numbers tell you what is happening in the business, but your intuition tells you why. Use both wisely to take the next steps. My role is about synchronisation, ensuring the heartbeat of the company is perfectly timed with the mechanics of the business.”
Over a 20-year career, Suman has navigated the demands of a joint family, raising two children, reaching senior leadership, and completing a Ph.D. In a cultural context where stepping back from a career after marriage or motherhood is still common, her path is an intentional one. What she’s most proud of is not necessarily a specific title or a milestone, but the discipline required to hold both worlds together.
“For me, my greatest achievement reflects resilience and discipline: to manage a complex life and a demanding career without having to compromise either.”
Away from work, Suman enjoys simple rituals, from playing badminton with her kids, listening to podcasts, to conversations with her curious Gen Z children.
Melissa Lapage | Senior Accountant and Client Partner (Melbourne)
Chartered Accountant (SAICA& Associate member CPA Australia)
Melissa’s career has moved through some of the most demanding corners of the finance world including mining, industrial logistics, automotive. She earned her pilot’s licence before she was old enough to drive a car, which tells you something about her ability to perform in high-stakes environments.
She remembers when a lot of the real conversations happened on golf courses and at pub lunches, spaces where women weren’t always present or expected to contribute at the level they were capable of. Her response was to make her work speak for itself. Today, she’s the person handling some of Slate’s most complex advisory work.
Melissa has watched the industry shift significantly since she started, with more balanced leadership teams, new technologies, and changing client expectations. AI and automation are changes she embraces because she believes there will always be a place for people who can combine technical capability with human insight.
“Context, relationships, and strategic thinking go beyond data. A finance professional who truly understands the inner workings of a business, who can answer the ‘how’ and the ‘who’, brings a perspective that will always be in demand.”
Having studied for years to qualify, Melissa remains enthusiastic about a career she never takes for granted. She views the hours spent at work each day as an opportunity to find genuine purpose through connection.
“Getting to know people beyond the surface level, striving toward shared goals, and building relationships that make each day enjoyable – that’s real success to me. Trust, communications, and emotional intelligence are powerful advantages, and many women excel in nurturing these connections.”
Having recently moved from South Africa to Australia, Melissa is now based in Melbourne, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and two cats. They explore local beaches, collecting shells as small markers of their new life in Australia. Melissa also runs a family tipping competition spanning cricket and Formula 1, held together by animated WhatsApp group chats with relatives scattered across the world.
Chandni Bhasin | Team Leader (Jaipur)
Chartered Accountant
Chandni joined Slate Accounts in 2017 as a Chartered Accountant who had cleared every board exam on the first attempt.
Seven years on, she leads both complex client portfolios and a growing team. When asked about the profession, she pushes back against the idea that accounting is a dry, rules-based profession.
“Many people assume accounting is purely about rules, but in reality, it’s very people-focused. A big part of the role is understanding clients and exercising judgment. The human element is just as important as technical expertise.”
She’s candid about the fact that the early years in finance can be hard for women, acknowledging that the industry’s demands don’t ease up at the same time personal responsibilities tend to increase. Chandni has taken maternity leave while working at Slate, and now leads some of Slate’s largest and most complex client engagements. Her advice to anyone navigating the same stretch of the road is to keep the longer view in mind.
“Stay committed and patient. It can be challenging to balance everything, especially early on, but if you stay focused on your long-term goals, it pays off in the long run. It’s about making a conscious choice to hold space for both your career and your life.”
Outside of work, Chandni is a hands-on mother of two who finds her reset in travel, early mornings, and time outdoors.
Taking the long view
When looking at these three leaders, what stands out is how much they represent in accumulated knowledge alone, from the judgment calls, the client relationships, to the commercial and relational instincts. These aren’t things you can automate as they’re built slowly, through experience, time, and commitment.
Founder Michael Kent has watched all three develop from close up. “Seeing our people grow into leaders while embracing everything else life asks of them is something I’m genuinely proud of,” he says. “It takes a particular mix of technical capability, commercial acumen, and emotional intelligence that’s hard to find.” In an industry still working out how to retain women, Slate’s answer has been straightforward: build a culture where choosing a career in finance and living a full life aren’t in competition.
