Search

Purpose With the increasing adoption of integrated reporting and the subsequent interest of the accounting discipline in its development, this paper aims to examine the enablers and barriers to the involvement of accountants in integrated reporting. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a case study approach by collecting interview data from six organisations that have adopted integrated reporting internationally. In the selected organisations, face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted with professionals who are involved in the preparation of an integrated report. The interviewees in this study included key integrated report preparers including accountants, corporate reporting managers, sustainability managers and other report preparers. Institutional entrepreneurship provided the theoretical insights for this study. Findings The study found that accountants’ expertise in corporate reporting and especially their knowledge of the assurance process was one of the major reasons why they were involved in integrated reporting. Accountants’ in-depth understanding of an organisation in addition to their general analytical and interpersonal skills were also found to be useful in preparing an integrated report. However, the voluntary nature of integrated reporting along with the lack of sufficient guidelines deterred accountants from being involved in integrated reporting. The study also found that accountants themselves did not see value in integrated reporting and found it challenging to convert numerical information to narratives, thus limiting their involvement in integrated reporting. Research limitations/implications Whilst prior studies have underlined accountants’ institutionalised practices, this study uncovers the strategies applied by accountants to maintain their institutionalised practices. The specific application of the institutional entrepreneurship concept identifies mechanisms and strategies through which accountants restrict their practices to narrow taken-for-granted roles. Practical implications This study uncovers practical implications by highlighting the factors that limit the involvement of accountants within integrated reporting. One of the major implications identified relates to the training of accountants to apply their existing skills and expertise in non-financial reporting to contribute effectively to multi-disciplinary teams that contribute towards integrated reporting in organisations. This study also provides an impetus for the International Integrated Reporting Council to provide more guidance for preparing an integrated report. Originality/value This is one of the initial studies that has explored the enablers and barriers to the involvement of accountants in integrated reporting through its focus on organisations that are already practising this form of reporting. The use of institutional entrepreneurship theory adds to the theoretical insights for exploring the involvement of the various actors in integrated reporting.

Purpose With an increased focus on the need for higher levels of accountability and transparency in the public sector, this study aims to provide insights into non-financial reporting (NFR) practices as a mechanism in facilitating accountability. This study also aims to investigate the changing role of the public sector accountant in this process, specifically focusing on the Australian local government sector. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a mail survey across two time periods, 2009 and 2017, to analyse the role of accountants in NFR practices. Institutional theory provides a theoretical framing for the study. Findings The findings reveal an increase in the use of accountants across time in the preparation of voluntary information, being used in a variety of roles because of their financial abilities and analytical skills. The results also indicate a shift has occurred with more emphasis being placed on cross-departmental approaches to NFP incorporating the accountant. These results suggest a greater recognition of the role of accountants in NFR and a dilution of accountant’s boundaries in relation to their existing traditional focus. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the academic NFR literature by providing evidence of an institutional shift that is occurring with the accountant’s role widening to a broader context beyond their traditional roles. Practical implications This longitudinal study provides practical evidence to management of the potential offered by accountants as the public sector seeks to achieve higher levels of accountability and transparency. Policy implications also arise in relation to the need for development of quality assurance guidelines and further education and training as the public sector embarks on the journey of NFR. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first that has explored the evolution of NFR over a period of time through its focus on the role of accountants.

The aim of this study is to explore how social and environmental disclosures are used to manage reputation during a major incident, through the use of British Petroleum Plc's (BP) Gulf of Mexico crisis as a case study. It is argued that reputation is distinct from legitimacy and that the immediate actions undertaken by an organisation during a crisis are related to reputation management. Using a qualitative case study approach, a thematic analysis of BP's social and environmental disclosures on its website during the time period of this incident (April 21 e September 19, 2010) was undertaken to enable an understanding of the reputation risk management activities of BP. The key findings of this research revealed that BP used social and environmental disclosures on its website extensively to manage its reputation risk arising from the Gulf of Mexico crisis. The company was engrossed in providing accounts of its world class facilities and superior quality of management, diverting attention away from the severe environmental damage caused by the massive oil spill. It was observed that BP consistently used the corrective actions strategy by disclosing extensive information about its plans to solve the problem, and not its actual social and environmental actions during the disaster. The predominant reputation managing strategy used was the bolstering strategy, whereby BP stressed on its good traits when disclosing its social and environmental actions during the crisis. Refereed/Peer-reviewed