Sustainability
Expert guidance on sustainability

Sustainability

The demands placed on accountants have grown in recognition of wider social and environmental challenges that simultaneously present opportunities. Sustainability accounting seeks to respond to these demands by providing a linkage between organisational activities and the pursuit of a sustainability agenda using accounting tools. The effective application of accounting tools would ideally facilitate people to better understand how decisions affect others and foster greater transparency and accountability. In understanding the challenges and opportunities that exist, NZICA members will be better equipped to meet the expectations of their clients.

The pursuit of sustainability accounting has given rise to a number of new tools that seek to change the way businesses operate and make decisions. Examples of new accounting tools developed over the last 15 years include full cost accounting, sustainable cost calculations, ecological footprint calculations, sustainability reports, and triple bottom line reports. 

Launch of research report

 

  

Sustainability and the role of the management accountant (PDF, 449KB) was released in October 2011. Key findings of the paper include:

  • There is a sustainability divide between those New Zealand businesses embedding sustainability into their corporate strategy and those that are not. This divide has been exacerbated by the economic downturn; and
  • Businesses identified a clear demand for accountants to keep pace with developments and support business in measuring and communicating sustainability issues.

More information about the research report

Video of the New Zealand launch

 

Integrated reporting

In September 2011 the International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC) released a discussion paper outlining a roadmap for linking an organisation’s strategy to financial, non-financial and narrative information.

Read the IIRC discussion document 

Read more on integrated reporting

 

Integrated Reporting <IR> Framework

The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) has commenced on a 90 day consultation period of the International <IR> Framework (16 April to 15 July). During this time the IIRC is calling on all stakeholders to read, critique and challenge the Draft Framework.  For further information please click here.

In preparing NZICA’s submission on the Consultation Draft, the NZICA Technical Services Team welcomes feedback from all interested members by 1 July 2013. These can be submitted through our online submissions survey or directly sent to our Technical Services Team on submission.feedback@nzica.com.