Technical resources

Tenets of good corporate governance

This report sets out key issues for companies to think about when considering their long term business model and strategy. It examines the interrelation between businesses and the context in which they operate, encouraging them to embrace good practice that facilitates long term growth.

ICOs: real deal or token gesture?

This report explores Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) including what they are and how the relate to professional accountants.

Balancing rules and flexibility for growth in Africa

A joint report with KPMG examining frameworks of corporate governance for listed companies in 15 countries across Africa.

ACCA culture-governance tool

Corporate culture encourages behaviours that support or impede the achievement of organisational objectives. The challenge is understanding how to nurture a culture that promotes behaviours consistent with organisational objectives. The ACCA culture-governance tool seeks to support organisations with their culture goals.

Effective speak-up arrangements for whistle-blowers

Recommendations for developing, operating and overseeing effective speak-up arrangements.

Culture and channelling corporate behaviour

This series of four reports aims to assist boards in preparing to assess their corporate culture and in understanding how it can influence either functional or dysfunctional behaviour.

Cyberwarriors with calculators: the role of accounting and finance professionals in a company's cybersecurity

Computers, servers and the Internet are indispensable tools for financial professionals – and they are under relentless attack. For accountants, measures must be taken to ensure that the sensitive personal and corporate financial information they handle is safe: accountants need to be at the forefront of cybersecurity.

Governance for all: the implementation challenge for SMEs

This report aims to encourage understanding of what corporate governance means for SMEs.

Canadian CFO Sentiment Study - March 2015

Canadian finance executives are showing great confidence in the US market in 2015, however when it came to their views on the domestic or global economy, most took the middle ground.

European Commission proposal for a revised shareholder rights directive

This paper outlines ACCA’s key messages on shareholders rights in Europe and how they fit into the wider governance agenda.

Risk reporting

This report examines how the quality and value of risk reporting can be improved. It reviews current practice in risk reporting, the barriers to better risk reporting, the wishes of users, and the concerns of preparers.

Culture vs regulation: what is needed to improve ethics in finance?

This paper examines the respective roles of the regulator and of culture in increasing ethical behaviour in finance, and the need to address dysfunctional finance market and behaviour.

Balancing rules and flexibility

A joint KPMG and ACCA report of a study of corporate governance requirements across 25 markets.

A risk challenge culture

This joint ACCA–IMA report discusses the elements of a risk challenge culture. It draws on discussions from roundtables held in Dubai, London, and New York in late 2013.

Creating value through governance – towards a new accountability: a consultation

This consultation paper forms part of ACCA’s investigation into whether existing governance and risk management frameworks are ‘fit for purpose’. The consultation period closed 31 August 2014.

100 drivers of change for the global accountancy profession

This study identifies the drivers shaping the landscape for businesses and professional accountants over the next decade.

Drivers of change in the US

Faye Chua, February 2013. This report outlines the US-relevant findings from a global survey conducted in 2012 by ACCA and IMA across their membership on drivers of change for the accountancy profession. It presents the US’s key drivers of change in the short, medium and long term for a variety of businesses. By identifying and exploring emerging trends, it can help accountants and business leaders prepare for an uncertain tomorrow.

Drivers of change in Asia-Pacific

Faye Chua, February 2013. This report outlines the Asia-Pacific-relevant findings from a global survey conducted in 2012 by ACCA and IMA across their membership on drivers of change for the accountancy profession. It presents Asia-Pacific’s key drivers of change in the short, medium and long term for a variety of businesses. By identifying and exploring emerging trends, it can help accountants and business leaders prepare for an uncertain tomorrow.

Corporate governance and risk: a study of board structure and process

ACCA research report 129, by T. Nulty, C. Florackis and P. Ormrod.

Putting investors at the heart of the financial system

ACCA and Grant Thornton, April 2012. This report presents insights from a discussion among a group of global investors. It explores the views of investors and investor representatives in relation to existing global financial and accounting standards, and their opinions on the direction of change, and the opportunities and challenges facing investors. It also addresses how investors can be more central to the process of change.

The reality of risk: culture, behaviour and the role of accountants

Matthew Leitch, January 2012. The reality of risk is that most is managed through everyday management activities, not separate activities focused on lists of risks. Accountants play a key role in helping people manage risk well. The survey described in this report explored the risk-related practices used by accountants, their willingness to use more, and the dysfunctional behaviours that can undermine management of risk. The results reveal an opportunity to improve the way risk is managed by focusing on how core management activities are done and the support provided by accountants.

Rules for risk management: culture, behaviour and the role of accountants

ACCA, January 2012. The problem of risk and the question of how not to fall victim to it are probably more topical than ever before. To a great extent, anyone and everyone in an organisation is, or should be, a risk manager. This report looks at how accountants in a wide range of roles contribute to managing risk as part of their normal work. It also looks at management accounting, financial forecasting, internal reporting and other disciplines that support decision-making and explores their importance as components of an integrated risk management approach.

The value of biodiversity

ACCA’s series of Friday Forums addresses sustainability issues relevant to the business community. On 1 April 2011 ACCA focused on the value of biodiversity to the ecosystems which global human communities, businesses and non-human species critically rely, and on the role that accountants can play in assessing this value. The key points raised at the event are summarised in this paper.

Risk and reward: shared perspectives

This paper contains a number of individual perspectives on the theme of risk: material, ethical and behavioural.

The value creation model for business: 2010 and beyond

This report shares insights from more than 500 business leaders on the value professional accountants bring to organisations of all sizes and all sectors.

Leadership and governance in Africa

ACCA, October 2010. This paper presents information about governance and ethical practices in Africa, based on a survey of ACCA members in the region. It explores how professional accountants contribute to governance and ethical practices.

Risk and reward: tempering the pursuit of profit

This report discusses how the rewards a company seeks may be supported by sensible management of the risks that confront it.

The basic principles of compiling a risk register for smaller companies

Tony Morton, March 2010. Recognising the growing importance and demand for managing risk in all sizes of businesses, this short guide is intended to help those embarking on a risk register exercise to construct something useful, with effort commensurate with the potential benefits, in a practical and easily understood way.

The accounting statements of global financial institutions and the recent crisis

Brandon Davies, Gilad Livne and Alistair Milne, March 2010. The paper looks at major issues associated with accounting policies and standards which affected the banking sector in the run-up to the financial crisis. More particularly, it describes some of the unfortunate consequences of the interaction between financial reporting, capital requirements, risk management procedures, bank business models and remuneration. These include challenges associated with fair value accounting, pro-cyclicality and comparability of, and precision in, numbers in financial reports. The paper concludes by identifying seven topics for future research and study.

The future of financial regulation: an update

ACCA, December 2009. Update to June's paper The Future of Financial Regulation.

Governance and management - climate change briefing paper

Prepared by EIRIS, October 2009. A critical issue for companies. Where robust and transparent sustainability and climate change governance practices are embedded into corporate strategy, companies are more likely to be able to manage the risks and maximise the opportunities presented by climate change.

The future of financial regulation

ACCA, June 2009. A guide for governments, regulatory authorities and standard-setters, this paper explains the nature of the current financial crisis and lays down a number of principles which ACCA believes should be reflected in the future design and administration of regulatory systems in the financial and business sectors.

Disclosures on corporate governance

ACCA Australia and New Zealand with Net Balance Foundation Limited, May 2009. Part of a series of research projects which analyses disclosures on areas of non-financial performance by Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) companies.

Fair value

ACCA, February 2009. Fair value has come in for more scrutiny and criticism in recent months than any accounting issue since inflation accounting in the 1970s. This policy paper is ACCA’s attempt to shed some light rather than the heat which has characterised much of the debate so far.

Directions in corporate governance

Jill Solomon, 2009. This paper summarises the content of two corporate governance symposia organised by the British Accounting Association Special Interest Group on Corporate Governance (BAASIGCG), setting them in the context of the existing body of corporate governance literature.

Resigning from a board: guidance for directors

ACCA, December 2008. This paper offers guidance to directors resigning from a board, as well as what a prospective director should consider before joining a board to spot potential issues which might later lead to resignation.

Corporate governance and the credit crunch

This paper sets out ACCA's thoughts and recommendations relating to the credit crunch.

Corporate governance and risk management agenda

This paper sets out the principles and aims that guide ACCA's work on governance and risk management issues.

Sure enough to be unsure? Questions for audit committees thinking about the credit crisis

Paul Moxley, July 2008. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) identified that 'corporate reporting and auditing will be particularly challenging [in 2008] and needs to be matched by increased diligence, and then clarity as to the basis on which judgements have been exercised'. The FRC published a set of key questions to remind audit committees of the key issues. But finding answers may not be easy. This paper considers some of those questions along with the challenge of providing satisfactory answers.