The American Society of Women Accountants is a professional organization whose purpose is to advance the interest of women in all fields of accounting and finance. The society was founded in 1938 and since then, has grown to include more than 100 chapters throughout the United States with approximately 6,000 members. Membership has been open to men since 1974.

ASWA members work at all levels of the accounting profession, from individual practitioners to entry- and top-level positions in industry and government and from juniors to partners in major accounting firms.

ASWA members can be found throughout the economy from academia and government to the private and public sectors. Members are highly educated, well-informed professionals and take part in a wide spectrum of activities including art, athletics, law, family life, music, travel and volunteerism.

The mission of ASWA is to enable women in all fields of accounting and finance to achieve their personal, professional and economic potential and to contribute to the future development of the profession.

The San Francisco Bay Area chapter was chartered in 1944 and the following are the past presidents:

 

2004-05	Amy Spickard Bess		1983-84	Janet Brown		1962-63	Bess McMannama
2003-04	Jill Limbacher		1982-83	Georgia Lee		1961-62	Margaret Conley
2002-03	Alison Wolniak		1981-82	Karen Zendelback		1960-61	Frances West               (d)
2001-02	Cindy Williamson		1980-81	Joyce Estes		1959-60	Catherine Quire           (d)
2000-01	Ingrid Swenson		1979-80	Joyce Estes		1958-59	Helen Dickerson           (d)
1999-00	Elizabeth Vaziri		1978-79	Kathleen Sikora		1957-58	Grace Luscomb            (d)
1998-99	Camelia Lim		1977-78	Marguerite Keith           (d)		1956-57	Mary Tonna Mulhall
1997-98	Lynn Felske		1976-77	Marguerite Smith		1955-56	Nancy Butler                (d)
1996-97	Sandy Giberson		1975-76	Orlene Chartain		1954-55	Elizabeth Smelker
1995-96	Audrey Hutchinson		1974-75	Martha Dixon		1953-54	Ethel Hayes
1994-95	Peggy Rasch		1973-74	Irene Alzapiedi		1952-53	Elsie MacLaren            (d)
1993-94	Theresa Masterson		1972-73	May Pon		1951-52	Marie Reynolds            (d)
1992-93	Audrey Hutchinson		1971-72	Frances McNamara		1950-51	Anita Jockers               (d)
1991-92	Dianna Overmyer		1970-71	Bess McMannama		1949-50	Eunice Messersmith     (d)
1990-91	Cherub Barredo Halperin		1969-70	Bess McMannama		1948-49	Adele Edwards            (d)
1989-90	Jennie Wai		1968-69	Genevieve LaBarba      (d)		1947-48	Marian Melbin             (d)
1988-89	Lynn Dempsey Boster		1967-68	Joan Birkland               (d)		1946-47	Margaret H. Clarke      (d)
1987-88	Ellen Wang		1966-67	Maria Diamond		1945-46	Mary Laniger
1986-87	Marianne Markt		1965-66	Faye Bottomlee Franklin		1944-45	Helen Maddex
1985-86	Tana Hutchison		1964-65	Rachel Hoover Carter
1984-85	Carrie Black		1963-64	Joan Birkland               (d)

(d) Deceased