The Future of Corporate Sustainability Reporting: A Rapidly Growing Assurance Opportunity

摘要: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY * To satisfy the information needs of external and internal stakeholders, more organizations are measuring reporting on their social environmental performance. CPAs can play an important role in providing needed helping to verify its accuracy. Corporate sustainability (CSR) involves financial nonfinancial key stakeholders company's operational, activities ability deal with related risks. The most dominant CSR regulations those Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which issued first comprehensive guidelines 2002 G3 Framework October 2006. As 2006, than 1,000 international companies had registered GRI corporate reports using standards. An opportunity exists for audit present reports. yet interested parties have not fully agreed what should be audited. Concern about suitability criteria used prepare performance standards auditor use. A joint task force AICPA Canadian Institute Chartered Accountants (CICA) concluded reached a point where they were suitable considered generally acceptable allow set accepted assurance developed. Two exposure drafts offered by accountants Netherlands engagements currently under review accounting including AICPA. ********** Faced increased pressure from as well usual measures. Stakeholders been pressing publicly report this either annual shareholders or voluntary worldwide growth socially responsible investment funds, rating systems such Dow Jones Sustainability Index policy disclosure requirements also put pressures make these kinds disclosures. trend grows, so, too, will auditors. within information, skills improve quality facilitate use sound business decisions areas appraisal, budgeting strategic planning. Auditors significant verifying accuracy reported practices it is derived. This article provides all overview may businesses worldwide. BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE Organizations come realize that meeting stakeholder expectations necessary condition need achieve overall objectives. While maximizing shareholder value continues overriding concern, able do over long term if don't meet other interests. According PricewaterhouseCoopers report, Value Revolution: Moving Beyond Earnings Game, "to create long-term economic society--shareholders alike--sustainability says must value." transparent provide accurate reliable data, fair picture performance, many now results across "triple bottom line" economic, …