会计师、行业目标与可持续发展企业（英文版）.pdf

ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS 2020 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants April 2020 About ACCA ACCA is the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Were a thriving global community of 219,000 members and 527,000 students based in 179 countries that upholds the highest professional and ethical values. We believe that accountancy is a cornerstone profession of society that supports both the private and public sectors. Thats why were committed to the development of a strong global accountancy profession and the many benefits that this brings to organisations, individuals and society. Our qualifications develop forward-thinking professionals with the financial and business skills essential for the creation of sustainable economies and flourishing societies. Every day, ACCA professional accountants support people and organisations in making sound decisions and doing the right thing. We build public trust by creating an inclusive profession with people from all backgrounds, bound by a common global code of ethics and committed to updating their skills to meet ever-changing needs. Since 1904 being a force for public good has been embedded in our purpose, and this powers everything we do. Like offering everyone, everywhere the opportunity to access a rewarding career in accountancy. By working in partnership with emerging economies to establish their own professional accountancy organisations and grow their finance ecosystems. Through freely sharing our leading-edge research that answers todays questions and prepares us for tomorrow. And by supporting our global family of members, future members, and partners and developing the profession for the next generation. We think ahead and lead the profession. Find out more at ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS In this report, we explore the purpose of the accountancy profession in helping organisations transform and be sustainable for the long term. The report commences by exploring what it means to be a sustainable organisation, and the impact on this of the dynamic forces of change. The report then considers the role of the profession and why it is well placed to support organisations, and more broadly society, to be sustainable and prosperous for the long term. 4 Contents Preface 6 Executive summary 8 1. Sustainable organisations and change 11 1.1 Digitalisation 11 1.2 Social and environmental capital 13 1.3 Shifting demographics 13 1.4 Global systemic economic shocks 14 1.5 Geopolitical 15 1.6 Regulation 17 2. What is the role of the profession? 19 2.1 The profession and the wider public interest 20 2.2 Professional accountants as value creators 24 2.3 Professional accountants as value protectors 24 2.4 Professional accountants as value communicators 25 3. Why the profession? 28 3.1 Ethics and Integrity: Driving professional accountants to do the right thing 30 3.2 Technical and professional skills: updated, validated and monitored Know how, making for expert professional accountants 30 3.3 Connectivity: Knowledge, learning and trust through connections 32 Conclusion 36 References 38 5 ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS | PREFACE Sustainable organisations have to be good corporate citizens: society demands it of them. They are organisations that expertly transform to remain a prosperous, valued part of society over time. Their transformation is a proactive response to the dynamic forces of change that affect us all. The rapid advancement of technology is revolutionising business and finance capability. Preface Social and environmental concerns, for example renewed efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, are requiring organisations to think and behave very differently. Global and geopolitical events, not least recent examples such as COVID-19 and Brexit, challenge us all to act swiftly but consistently. Demographic and regulatory changes are further fuelling the need for careful transformation, so that organisations can deliver value beyond short-term profit. In this report, we explore the purpose of the accountancy profession in helping organisations transform and be sustainable for the long term. The report commences by exploring what it means to be a sustainable organisation, and the impact on this of the dynamic forces of change. The report then considers the role of the profession and why it is well placed to support organisations, and more broadly society, to be sustainable and prosperous for the long term. We have drawn our insights both from within and beyond the profession. This has involved engagement with the professions key stakeholders, and we have drawn upon research (including ACCAs own) that reveals the shape of the global economy, the dynamic forces changing it and how organisations need to respond. We have also considered developments in professional accountancy regulation and education programmes. We would like to thank all our participants, including ACCA Council and International Assembly members for their contribution to shaping this report. We hope this report helps to demonstrate the enduring value of the profession to all stakeholders, and prompts discussion on the professions purpose in an increasingly challenging global environment. 6 SUSTAINABLE ADVANCEMENT OF GLOBAL SOCIETY REQUIRES ORGANISATIONS TO PROACTIVELY AND POSITIVELY NAVIGATE THE DYNAMIC FORCES OF CHANGE. ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS | PREFACE 7 PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The accountancy profession is as relevant today as it has ever been. We should be optimistic about its future. Since the Renaissance, accountancy has been one of the foundational pillars of modern commerce and the lingua franca of trade and capital-market growth. Executive summary Focusing on public interest, and backed by ethics, business and finance expertise developed through lifelong learning and the professions networks, professional accountants play a key role in creating, protecting and communicating value for organisations and society. This, in turn, contributes to the sustainable advancement of todays global society. This sustainable advancement of global society requires organisations to proactively and positively navigate the dynamic forces of change. These changes, from technological revolution to rising environmental and social concerns, from seismic demographic shifts to mass geopolitical change, and from global systemic economic shocks to regulatory developments, are challenging for organisations as well as potentially creating opportunities as never before. Sustainable organisations are creating business models that generate long-term value, not just for the organisation but for wider society too. Todays society demands inclusivity and accountability, it seeks trust and confidence in organisations, and assurance that their activities are for the greater long-term good of their society and all their stakeholders and not just focused on generating short-term profits for shareholders. FIGURE 1: The accountancy professions influence on society in a changing world SOCIETY ACCOUNTANCY PROFESSION SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS CREATE, PROTECT AND COMMUNICATE VALUE CREATE, PROTECT AND COMMUNICATE VALUE DYNAMICS OF CHANGE DYNAMICS OF CHANGE 8 ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In this context, and at a time of declining trust in professions more generally, it is timely to revisit a fundamental question, what is the purpose of the accountancy profession? Across almost every aspect of business, professional accountants help organisations navigate challenging and competitive operating environments, thereby creating new value streams. Equally, the profession retains its fundamental stewardship responsibilities for protecting the value created for the long term, and for communicating organisational action and performance in a transparent, reliable and responsible way (Figure 1). These aspects of creating, protecting and communicating value reaffirm the professions role as the super-connector of reliable information within organisations, and from organisations to their stakeholders and wider society. These connections enable stakeholders to make well-informed judgements. The profession helps drive greater corporate accountability and responsibility, building stakeholder trust in organisations and in those who lead them. The direct contribution of the profession can help build thriving sustainable organisations, through better leadership and governance, financial and performance management, tax, advisory, reporting, audit and assurance work. The profession also has a much wider public- interest remit, which this report highlights. This wider remit builds on and sustains the broad business and finance environment. Examples include supporting and encouraging the development of international trade; helping expand national economies; spearheading infrastructure and capacity-building programmes in emerging markets; championing global accounting, auditing, ethics and education standards; promoting good corporate governance; and driving improved financial literacy across the world. In all this, professional accountants are regulated by their professional bodies, and professional bodies are overseen and regulated by national and global authorities. A properly regulated accountancy profession engenders trust in the world whose development it supports and the organisations the profession serves. In a world challenged today by technological disruption, protectionist economic doctrines, significant demographic shifts and serious environmental and social challenges, this public interest call to arms for the profession has become even more relevant. So, why trust the accountancy profession? Trust in the profession is borne from its trinity of features: ethics, expertise and connectivity. Individually, these features may not be unique to the profession, but taken together they build a convincing case that the accountancy profession has a strong role to play in helping to build and sustain value. 1. Ethics is the DNA of the profession, it means that professional accountants focus on doing the right thing, acting in the public interest in all that they do. 2. Expertise, through lifelong learning provided and monitored by strongly regulated professional bodies, professional accountants have current and relevant know how. 3. Connectivity, the networks which come with membership of a professional body enable professional accountants to bring together their vast experience and ability to learn from others; this sharing, cements their expertise. In a world constantly experiencing dynamic forces of change, the ethical expertise and public interest focus of the profession gives it a core role to play in sustainably creating, protecting and communicating long term value for organisations, their stakeholders and wider society. TRUST IN THE PROFESSION IS BORNE FROM ITS TRINITY OF FEATURES: ETHICS, EXPERTISE AND CONNECTIVITY. 9 THE ETHICAL EXPERTISE AND PUBLIC INTEREST FOCUS OF THE PROFESSION GIVES IT A CORE ROLE TO PLAY IN SUSTAINABLY CREATING, PROTECTING AND COMMUNICATING LONG TERM VALUE FOR ORGANISATIONS, THEIR STAKEHOLDERS AND WIDER SOCIETY. ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 10 Sustainable organisations are the lifeblood of a successful economy. They are part of the very fabric that creates prosperity and wealth for society over the long term (Figure 1.1). 1. Sustainable organisations and change Organisations today cannot just please their shareholders or generate compelling short-term financial returns they must be better corporate citizens and meet broader stakeholder demands. They understand that having a wider role and purpose in society is essential to delivering long- term value, fundamentally contributing to a better world. Creating sustainable long-term value is particularly challenging now, for example as we write this report most people are focusing on grappling with the immediate health, financial and economic impact of COVID-19. Looking towards the longer term, they should consider the dynamic forces of change, shaping organisations irrespective of sector, size or geography. Technology is transforming the global economy, how we operate, and the very fabric of organisations and society. But it is not just technology that is driving change. The impact of natural disasters is a sign from the environment that we cannot continue to treat it as we have. Social inequality is calling us to act more fairly. Society has emerging and sometimes very different expectations of the role organisations should play. There are geopolitical and significant demographic challenges too. ACCAs global research programme over the last three years points broadly to six dynamic forces of change affecting society and organisations therein, influencing their capability for creating sustainable value for the long term. 1.1 Digitalisation Technology is transforming channels to market, opening up new growth opportunities for organisations, as well as creating new competitive threats as it rapidly dismantles long-established barriers. In many industries, competitors are springing up, undeniably challenging organisations who had previously enjoyed the benefits of these barriers, for example many startups can immediately draw on new technology to service customers, whereas established businesses often have large complex infrastructure technology necessitating rework. Using the vast increase in data, and better access to it, organisations are able to ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS | 1. SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS AND CHANGE FIGURE 1.1: Sustainable organisations in society, subject to the forces of change PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC INTEREST SOCIETY SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS CREATE, PROTECT AND COMMUNICATE VALUE DYNAMICS OF CHANGE DYNAMICS OF CHANGE 11 ACCOUNTANTS, PURPOSE AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS | 1. SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATIONS AND CHANGE glean new insights, spurring innovation with product ideas that satisfy changing consumer demands. Technology is helping reshape business processes and making possible the previously impossible, through the scale of automation, increased efficiency and redefinitions of the nexus of work between people and machines. The shift from 4G to 5G and cloud technologies are transforming business and data connectivity, driving new possibilities for insight, sharing and engaging. Technolog