Women are moving up at this professional services firm. They earned 32% of all promotions to partner in 2010 (their biggest victory ever) and now fill nearly triple the number of slots they did seven years ago. In the hopes that they will occupy 20% of the partnership by 2015 (up from 16% last year), the firm recently launched its Advancement of Women Sponsorship Program, which pairs rising female senior managers with senior partners who serve as their professional advocates. Mothers support such ambitions by relying heavily on alternative work arrangements and using up to ten days of subsidized backup care annually, which is especially helpful when there’s a work crisis. In a recent survey, 80% of employees said that they were proud to work for the firm.

CEO Stephen Chipman

Chief HR Officer Anne Lang

Women managers/execs 42% 

Women among top earners 24% 

Women hires in 2010 51% 

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave offered 8 

Allows new moms to “phase back” into work with reduced hours? Yes

Offers affinity group for new mothers? No

Offers backup childcare? No

Employees working flexibly 100%

Employees who are raising children with autism can connect with an online community on theGrid, Grant Thornton’s new internal social networking site.

Sometimes just knowing the right way to handle things can set a leader apart. Last year, this professional services firm introduced the Centered Leadership development series, which helps women at all levels identify their strengths, communicate effectively and manage their energy to serve as better leaders. It's now being rolled out across all 52 locations, where higher-ups are already looking for promising talent. Employees interested in taking their skills to the next level can also pursue advanced degrees with an 80% tuition subsidy. Telecommuting and compressed workweeks help: Women make up three quarters of those on formal flex schedules. "My decision to pursue a flexible work arrangement has enabled me to have the best of both worlds–an extremely challenging career and a busy life at home," says practice leader Gail Baer, who takes summers off to spend with her three teenagers.

CEO Stephen Chipman

Chief HR Officer Anne M. Lang

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 41%

Women among top earners 23%

Women on board of directors 8%

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 22%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* 70%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year* 1%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement 6%

Do formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance? Yes

*Percentages reflect number of women participants versus company’s total female workforce.

Grant Thornton’s use of videoconferencing has doubled since 2005, making it easier for employee parents to avoid exhausting business trips.

Missing your baby’s first smile or the first time she rolls over can be tough on a parent—so it’s no wonder moms were thrilled when they heard that this Chicago based professional services firm was expanding parental leave to seven months (up from four) last year. The leave is job-guaranteed, with eight weeks fully paid for birthmoms and primary adoptive caregivers and two paid for fathers— also significant upgrades from the year before. To help parents cover the legal, medical and court fees that come with adoption, the firm offers a $10,000 benefit. In a recent survey, 79% of employees said they had the freedom to leave the office whenever necessary.

CEO: Edward Nusbaum

Chief HR Officer: Anne M. Lang

Women managers/execs: 40%

Women among top earners: 30%

Women on board of directors: 17%

Women corporate executive hires in 2008: 18%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year: 36%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year: 15%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement: 7%

Formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance: Yes