seattleafwa.org

What is AFWA Seattle?

AFWA Seattle is the Seattle-Bellevue Chapter (#9) of the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance, a professional association for women in accounting and related financial fields. According to the chapter's site, the Seattle and Bellevue chapters merged in June 2021, and the group's stated mission is to help women in accounting and related fields reach their full personal, professional and economic potential while contributing to the profession's future.

In practice, that translates into a local membership community rather than a certification body or training provider. The chapter describes its role as encouraging professional growth, promoting members' involvement and recognition as leaders, providing a community of peers, contributing to the advancement of the profession, and advocating involvement in business and legislative issues.

Who it tends to suit

• Women working in accounting, finance, audit, tax or related fields in the Seattle-Bellevue area.
• People who want local peers and networking rather than only online resources.
• Professionals interested in leadership visibility and industry advocacy.

What the page shows

The site lists an upcoming chapter event: a Strategic Planning Meeting on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 6:00–8:30 PM Pacific, in person, with the location still to be determined. That suggests the chapter runs in-person gatherings and involves members in shaping its direction.

If you're considering it, a practical next step is to attend one event before joining, so you can judge the mix of members, the meeting format and whether the commute works for you. The national organization is at Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance.

How do I become a member of AFWA Seattle?

Membership in AFWA Seattle runs through the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance, the national organization that the Seattle-Bellevue Chapter #9 belongs to. The chapter's own site describes its mission and events, but joining is handled at the national level rather than by signing up on the chapter page. Start at the national AFWA site, Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance, and look for its membership section; from there you can select the Seattle-Bellevue chapter as your local affiliation.

What to expect from the process

• Application through the national body. You complete a membership form and pay dues to AFWA, then indicate your chapter preference.
• Chapter affiliation. Once you are a national member, you are connected to the Seattle-Bellevue Chapter, which provides the local programming and peer network.
• Local contact. If you have questions about the Seattle chapter specifically, use the contact information on AFWA Seattle to ask about upcoming meetings before committing.

A practical first step

The chapter's page lists a Strategic Planning Meeting on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 6:00–8:30 PM Pacific, in person (location to be determined). If that date is still ahead of you, emailing the chapter to ask whether prospective members may attend is a low-commitment way to meet current members and see whether the group fits your goals. If the date has passed, ask about the next scheduled event instead.

Who this suits

AFWA is aimed at women in accounting and related financial fields, and the chapter's stated purpose includes professional growth, leadership recognition, a community of peers, and advocacy on business and legislative issues. It tends to fit people who want a local peer group alongside a national professional network — for example, an accountant new to Seattle who wants mentors and local contacts, or a mid-career finance professional seeking leadership visibility. If you mainly want technical training or a credential, a professional association focused on certification may serve you better; AFWA's value is more in community, recognition, and professional development.

Decision criterion

Before joining, compare the cost of national dues plus any chapter fee against what you would actually use: how many local events you can attend, whether the meeting times work for you, and whether the chapter's programming matches your career stage. Attending one event first usually answers that question faster than reading about the organization.

What events does AFWA Seattle host for accounting and finance professionals?

AFWA Seattle — the Seattle-Bellevue Chapter #9 of the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance — uses events primarily to support women in accounting and related fields through professional development, peer community and leadership visibility. From the page evidence, the chapter's event lineup is not a large public conference series; it is chapter-based programming.

What is confirmed on the site

• A Strategic Planning Meeting is listed for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 6:00–8:30 PM Pacific, in person, with the location still to be determined.
• The chapter describes its wider purpose as encouraging professional growth, promoting members' involvement and recognition as leaders, providing a community of peers, contributing to the advancement of the profession, and advocating involvement in business and legislative issues.
• The site notes that the Seattle and Bellevue chapters merged as of June 2021, so events now serve a combined Seattle-Bellevue membership.

What that means in practice The confirmed event is a planning meeting rather than a technical CPE session or a networking social. That is useful if you want a say in what the chapter does next — topics, speakers, meeting formats — or if you are considering volunteering for a board or committee role. A typical attendee might be a Seattle-area accountant, auditor, controller or finance manager who wants a smaller, relationship-driven group rather than a large industry conference.

For someone weighing whether to attend, the trade-off is straightforward: a planning meeting offers influence and direct contact with chapter organizers, but it is not the best first choice if your goal is earning continuing education credits or hearing a specific technical update. If you want those, ask the chapter which upcoming monthly programs or speaker events carry CPE.

Next step Check the chapter's event listing or contact the chapter before August 5, 2026, to confirm the venue and whether the meeting is open to prospective members. If you are new to the group, ask whether you can attend one event as a guest before joining. You can also compare with a national organization such as the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance for overall mission and member benefits, or look at broader Seattle-area finance groups like Financial Executives International and IMA if you need a different mix of CPE, industry focus or networking scale.

How can I attend the AFWA Seattle strategic planning meeting?

The site lists the Strategic Planning Meeting as Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 6:00–8:30 PM Pacific, in person, with the location still to be determined. Because the location is not yet posted, the practical step is to check the chapter site for an update before the date and to contact the chapter through whatever contact route the site provides.

What to do

1. Open AFWA Seattle and look for the event listing or a news/events update.
2. Confirm the venue once it is announced, since "TBD (In-Person)" means the address is not final yet.
3. If you are not a member, ask whether non-members may attend and whether there is a registration step or fee, as the page does not state either.
4. If you plan to attend, say so in advance so the organizers can plan room size and any materials.

Who this suits

This is aimed at women in accounting and related financial fields, including people considering membership. A strategic planning meeting is typically more useful for someone willing to contribute ideas about programs, outreach and professional development than for someone seeking a purely social event. If you are new to the chapter, arriving a little early and introducing yourself as a prospective member is a reasonable approach.

A note on the date

The meeting is listed for August 2026, so it is not imminent. Treat the listing as a placeholder until the location and any registration details are added, and re-check closer to the date.

What professional development or networking benefits does AFWA Seattle offer to women in accounting?

AFWA Seattle supports women in accounting and related fields through a local community focused on professional growth, leadership recognition, and peer connection. Its stated mission is to help women reach their full personal, professional, and economic potential while contributing to the profession’s future. The chapter also says it advocates involvement in business and legislative issues, so the benefits blend career support with broader professional visibility.

Practical benefits members can expect

• A peer community: A network of women in accounting, finance, and related roles in the Seattle-Bellevue area.
• Professional growth: Encouragement and programming aimed at developing skills and advancing careers.
• Leadership recognition: Promoting members’ involvement and recognition as leaders.
• Industry voice: Contributing to the advancement of the profession and engaging with business and legislative issues.
• Local events: The chapter lists a Strategic Planning Meeting on August 5, 2026, 6:00–8:30 PM Pacific, in person, with location to be determined.

Who it suits

This is most useful for women working in accounting or adjacent fields who want a local, relationship-based network rather than only online courses. It can suit early-career professionals seeking mentors and peers, mid-career members looking for leadership visibility, and experienced professionals who want to shape the profession and connect with other women in the region.

How to evaluate it

If you are deciding whether to engage, consider what you want most: job leads, technical development, leadership experience, or advocacy. AFWA Seattle’s page emphasizes community, growth, and recognition, so it is likely strongest for people who value sustained local relationships. A practical next step is to attend the August Strategic Planning Meeting or reach out through the chapter site to ask about upcoming programming, membership requirements, and how often members meet.

For broader context on the national organization, see Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance.

How do I contact or get involved with the Seattle-Bellevue Chapter of AFWA?

The site itself does not list a phone number, email address, or contact form on the page you shared. The clearest way to get involved is to attend a chapter event and introduce yourself there.

Start with the next event

The page promotes an August Strategic Planning Meeting: Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 6:00–8:30 PM Pacific, in person (location still to be determined). Strategic planning sessions are unusually good first meetings for newcomers: they are working discussions about the chapter's direction, so you hear what members care about and can volunteer for a committee on the spot. Because the location is listed as TBD, check the site again closer to the date before traveling.

Other practical routes

• Look for a "Contact" or "Join" page or a chapter newsletter signup on the site, since the excerpt shown does not include one.
• Ask a colleague who is already an AFWA member to bring you as a guest.
• If you are near Seattle or Bellevue, reach out through the national organization and ask to be connected to Chapter #9.

If you are deciding whether to join

• Best fit: women in accounting, finance, audit, tax, or related fields who want local peers, mentors, and leadership visibility.
• Weigh the trade-off: the chapter merged Seattle and Bellevue in June 2021, so events may alternate between the two cities; check each event's location against your commute.
• What you get: professional growth, recognition as a leader, and a peer community, per the chapter's stated mission.

Next step: note the August 5, 2026 date, revisit AFWA Seattle for the confirmed venue and any contact details, and email or message the chapter before the meeting to say you are new.