Corporate reporting complexity challenges grow as new priorities emerge

With corporate reporting undergoing significant transformation in a rapidly evolving business environment, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has published a new report, Principles of good corporate reporting. Designed to address the increasing complexities posed by new accounting and sustainability frameworks, rising stakeholder expectations, and technological advancements, it provides businesses, policymakers and other organisations with essential guidance.

'The corporate reporting landscape is becoming increasingly complex, with a multitude of frameworks, buzzwords, and regulations emerging to keep pace with dynamic business needs, technological advancements, and new priorities such as sustainability and the social impacts of business,' says Hsiao Mei Chow, author of the report and head of corporate reporting insights - sustainability at ACCA.

ACCA has set out eight principles in the report:

1. Embed connectivity and coherence
   Encourage better linking of financial and non-financial information to create a cohesive organisational narrative that clarifies strategy, risks, and value creation.
   
   
2. Apply a 'building blocks' approach, building on a global baseline
   Support consistency by adopting a global baseline for reporting standards, while balancing the need for regional adaptations.
   
   
3. Be principles-based and apply proportionality
   Adopt an inclusive, principles-based approach to reporting that scales with an organisation's size and resources.
   
   
4. Maximise comparability, with interoperability as a catalyst
   Enable meaningful comparisons across sectors through collaboration and harmonised approaches to reporting.
   
   
5. Understand and meet stakeholders' information needs
   Focus on delivering decision-useful insights tailored to the needs of varied stakeholders.
   
   
6. Take a holistic approach to corporate reporting
   Present a balanced view of financial and sustainability-related information, showing the full scope of organisational impact.
   
   
7. Enable and support good governance practices
   Establish and disclose ethical, sound governance structures to build credibility.
   
   
8. Ease access and avoid disclosure overload
   Strive for clear, concise reporting that avoids overwhelming stakeholders.

ACCA's Principles of Good Corporate Reporting serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating the complexities of modern reporting, empowering businesses and other organisations, as well as policymakers and regulators, to work together in fostering responsible, sustainable business practices. Read the full report here.

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About ACCA

We are ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), a globally recognised professional accountancy body providing qualifications and advancing standards in accountancy worldwide.  

Founded in 1904 to widen access to the accountancy profession, we've long championed inclusion and today proudly support a diverse community of over 252,500 members and 526,000 future members in 180 countries.   

Our forward-looking qualifications, continuous learning and insights are respected and valued by employers in every sector. They equip individuals with the business and finance expertise and ethical judgment to create, protect, and report the sustainable value delivered by organisations and economies.  

Guided by our purpose and values, our ambition is to lead the accountancy profession for a changed world. Partnering with policymakers, standard setters, the donor community, educators and other accountancy bodies, we're strengthening and building a profession that drives a sustainable future for all. 

Find out more at: www.accaglobal.com

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