Racial disparities in career advancement continue to be a challenge for employers and minority workers in the accounting profession. We examine how social networks may influence the likelihood of Black professionals being placed on challenging assignments, which contributes to career advancement. Using a survey of 381 Black accounting professionals, we find that the key factors to obtaining challenging assignments include having access to social networks, the ability to establish social networks, and having a mentor who opens the door to challenging assignments. We also find that access to social networks improves when there is an accepting and welcoming work environment, when a mentor introduces the professional to the right social networks, and when the professional defines success to include involvement in social activities with business colleagues.

职业发展方面的种族差异仍然是会计行业雇主和少数族裔工人面临的挑战。我们研究社交网络如何影响黑人专业人士接受具有挑战性的任务的可能性，这有助于职业发展。通过对 381 名黑人会计专业人士的调查，我们发现获得具有挑战性的任务的关键因素包括能够访问社交网络、建立社交网络的能力以及拥有一位能够为具有挑战性的任务打开大门的导师。我们还发现，当有一个接受和欢迎的工作环境时，当导师向专业人员介绍正确的社交网络时，社交网络的访问会得到改善，