Technical resources

Global economic conditions survey report: Q3, 2012

The global economic conditions survey, carried out jointly by ACCA and IMA since late 2011, is the largest regular economic survey of accountants in the world, both in terms of the number of respondents and the scope of economic variables it monitors.

Canada and the green economy

Judy Kuszewski and Yasmin Crowther, October 2012. Canada has a complex relationship with the global efforts to move to a green economy. Its policymakers and business leaders need to balance the country’s vast natural resources and the economic growth that they can foster, with the need to develop in a low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive manner. This report explores what the green economy means to Canada, with a particular focus on Canadian companies and the accountancy profession.

Is corporate China ready for the green economy?

ACCA, October 2012. This report summarises the ACCA and WWF roundtable held in Beijing on 29 June 2012, one of a series of events addressing sustainability issues relevant to the business community in Asia.

Is corporate Singapore ready for the green economy?

ACCA, October 2012. This report summarises the ACCA roundtable held in Singapore on 17 April 2012, one of a series of events addressing sustainability issues relevant to the business community in Asia.

China and sustainability: risks and opportunities

ACCA, October 2012. This report summarises a briefing held on 14 March 2012 by ACCA and CSR Asia. The session reviewed the social and environmental challenges that accompany the business opportunities arising from China’s rapid development into the world’s largest exporter and second largest importer.

Is corporate Hong Kong ready for the green economy?

ACCA, October 2012. This report summarises the ACCA and WWF Hong Kong roundtable held in Hong Kong on 27 June 2012, one of a series of events addressing sustainability issues relevant to the business community in Asia.

The changing role of the CFO

This joint report with IMA discusses the future of the finance function, and in particular the future role of the CFO. Emerging challenges are identified in the areas of regulation, globalisation, technology, risk, transformation, stakeholder management strategy, reporting, talent and capability.

Talent management in a shared services world: 2012 survey

This report provides results from one of the largest-ever surveys on talent management practices across the global finance profession. It provides some simple data points on the current state of talent management activities from global finance functions that have adopted shared service centres. Over 1,200 finance functions with shared service centres responded to this survey.

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.

Integrated reporting: the influence of King III on social, ethical and environmental reporting

This study analyses the annual reports of 10 major South African companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) to assess the impact of the required introduction of integrated reporting on social, environmental and ethical reporting.

Green taxation in a recession

Chas Roy-Chowdhury, August 2012. This paper addresses some of the issues surrounding environmental taxation in the light of the current global financial situation and provides recommendations for policy-makers.

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

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

Reporting pre- and post-King III: what’s the difference?

This discussion paper summarises the findings of the report 'Integrated reporting: the influence of King III on social, ethical and environmental reporting' written for ACCA by Jill Solomon and Warren Maroun. It outlines ACCA’s recommendations made on the basis of this research.

Closing the value gap: understanding the accountancy profession in the 21st century

This research asked the accountancy profession and the public about trust and public value. The findings reveal a profession keen to re-examine its future.

Managing cashflow guides

This collection of 10 guides can be helpful to small business clients as a quick reference and to practitioners as a trigger for more in-depth discussions on cashflow and related services.

Global perspectives on health challenges

Sharon Cannaby, August 2012. This paper brings together the views of senior ACCA members around the world on the key challenges facing healthcare systems globally. The discussions provide an interesting insight into some of the country-specific issues facing healthcare delivery around the world.

Environmental aspects of sustainability, SMEs and the role of the accountant

ACCA research report 128, by J. Spence, G. Agyemang and L. Rinaldi.

The ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards

The ACCA-WWF Environmental Reporting Awards were launched in Pakistan in 2002 and have helped raised the profile of corporate transparency and responsibility issues globally

High growth SMEs: understanding the leaders of the recovery

ACCA, July 2012. This report discusses the challenges, difficulties and the successes that Growth Oriented Entrepreneurs have in the US, European and BRICSA (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and compares them to an international benchmark created by this study. The implications of the findings for governments, financiers and advisors are considered in terms of what support entrepreneurs need to build sustainable companies and thereby continue to stimulate their domestic and global economies.

Confidence accounting: a proposal

A consultation to discuss the problem of uncertainty inherent in many of the values in a set of accounts.

Global economic conditions survey report: Q2, 2012

The global economic conditions survey, carried out jointly by ACCA and IMA since late 2011, is the largest regular economic survey of accountants in the world, both in terms of the number of respondents and the scope of economic variables it monitors.

Enhancing sustainability and competitiveness: the role of auditing in the Caribbean

ACCA, June 2012. In April 2012, ACCA Caribbean held a series of three events in Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica to assess the role and future of audit.

Access to finance for SMEs: a global agenda

ACCA, June 2012. This paper presents ACCA’s’ recommendations for the development of a visible and consistent global agenda on SME access to finance. It calls for intergovernmental organisations to develop and support a consistent platform for sharing best practice. It also encourages national governments to engage in this process, developing a long-lasting change in SME financing across the world.

Making capital markets work in emerging and frontier economies: case studies

This paper presents five case studies on the development of capital markets in emerging and frontier economies. These first-hand accounts reveal the crucial human, social and regulatory capital that capital markets rely on and demonstrate how much local regulators and operators around the world can learn from each other.

Carbon taxation and corporate behaviour

ACCA, May 2012. This report summarises the breakfast briefing held by ACCA on 23 February 2012. The session looked at the role of carbon taxation in mitigating climate change and its value when compared with other market mechanisms.

Investor round table: EC audit proposals

ACCA, May 2012. With work progressing in Europe on the development of legislation to strengthen statutory audit requirements for public interest entities, ACCA and Grant Thornton held a round-table event in London on 14 May to enable investors to express their views.

In search of innovative solutions: report of the discussions from the FEE roundtable series 'access to finance for SMEs'

FEE SMP Task Force. This document reflects the outcome of debates held in expert roundtables organised by FEE, the Federation of European Accountants.

Making a difference at Rio+20

ACCA, May 2012. This paper provides some background to Rio+20 and the 'zero draft' of the summit agreement, explains the importance of paragraph 24 - concerning the integration of sustainability information into corporate reports - of the zero draft, the possible changes to paragraph 24 from zero draft to final agreement, and ACCA and others' opinions.

Driving business performance through diversity

This joint ACCA–ESRC report summarises the views of three expert panels on diversity in business held in London, Shanghai and Delhi between November 2011 and January 2012.

SMEs and their advisers: measuring trust and confidence

ACCA research report 127, by E. Schizas, R. Jarvis and N. Daskalakis.

Finance leaders on sourcing success

This report presents the results of a global survey of finance leaders on the aims and effectiveness of finance shared services and outsourcing programmes. It explores the initial drivers behind adopting finance shared services and outsourcing finance operations, considers how these are evolving, and the success of current approaches.

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 role of accountancy in economic development

Ian Welch, April 2012. This paper, prepared for the High-level Meeting on Accounting for Development in Doha, Qatar, on 22 April 2012, sets out key areas where ACCA believes professional accountancy can contribute to sustained economic development.

Driving SME growth through an evolving finance function

Emmanouil Schizas, April 2012. This paper uses data from over 10,000 interviews with UK SMEs to show how financial capability is not the result of business growth, but one of its causes. It explores the evolution of the finance function from an informal process to a formal team or departments and highlights the critical events and concerns that drive its development.

Building a better business through finance diversity

This report shows why diversity in the finance function is important and considers how businesses can develop more diverse finance functions.

Global economic conditions survey report: Q1, 2012

The global economic conditions survey, carried out jointly by ACCA and IMA since late 2011, is the largest regular economic survey of accountants in the world, both in terms of the number of respondents and the scope of economic variables it monitors.

Basel III and SMEs: getting the trade-off right

The provisions of Basel III, the global framework governing the regulation of bank capital, liquidity and leverage, will, for the coming years, determine the supply and cost of capital to businesses globally. The financial crisis presented policymakers with a choice between promoting business growth and safeguarding financial stability. This paper discusses how Basel III can be adapted to reflect the appropriate trade-off between the two.

The rise of capital markets in emerging and frontier economies

Capital markets promote economic development and growth by facilitating and diversifying firms’ access to finance. In order to do this they rely on institutions, including sound financial reporting and assurance, and these in turn depend on the accounting profession. This discussion paper considers how these relationships work and how policymakers can build on them.

Finance transformation: expert insights on SSO in Malaysia

ACCA, March 2013. Senior executives of the shared services and outsourcing industry in Malaysia convened on 20 March 2012 at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur for a roundtable discussion. The discussion took a perspective on the ACCA report, Finance Transformation: Expert Insights on Shared Services and Outsourcing. This summary outlines the themes arising from the discussion and provides a Malaysian context to finance transformation activity.

Getting paid: lessons for, and from, SMEs

Paul and Boden, February 2012. This report brings together the experiences of business owners and managers as well as credit and finance professionals in businesses large and small, from the supplier's as well as the buyer's side. It finds that there is only so much government can do to protect small firms from abusive credit terms and late payment, but also a great deal that businesses can do for themselves. Published as part of ACCA's contribution to the UK Government's Finance Fitness Campaign.

SME internationalisation in Central and Eastern Europe

Rosana Mirkovic, February 2012. This report investigates both challenges and opportunities that exist in increasing the rate of SME international activity, with a particular focus on central and eastern Europe. Insights into the barriers to SME international activity, as well as policy recommendations and practical steps that can be taken to overcome these, will be of interest to the regional policy makers and business owners alike.

Get paid! A guide for owners and managers of small businesses

A joint resource from ACCA, Experian, FPB and ICM. As part of the government’s ‘Get Paid’ campaign, this ‘quick guide’ to avoiding or managing late payment, summarises the tips outlined in ACCA's 2012 report by Boden and Paul.

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.

Global economic conditions survey report: Q4, 2011

The global economic conditions survey, carried out jointly by ACCA and IMA since late 2011, is the largest regular economic survey of accountants in the world, both in terms of the number of respondents and the scope of economic variables it monitors.

Finance transformation: expert insights on shared services and outsourcing

Jamie Lyon and Deborah Kops, January 2012. This report presents insights from global experts of companies at the forefront of finance transformation activity. It explores the issues, challenges and opportunities facing businesses transitioning to new finance models to improve business performance.

Adoption of integrated reporting by the ASX 50

This report investigates the state of integrated reporting among Australia’s 50 largest listed companies.

CRD IV and small businesses: revisiting the evidence in Europe

CRD IV is one of the most important pieces of regulation ever to come out of the EU institutions and its implementation could determine the shape of the recovery from one of the most challenging times in the Union’s existence. Based on its analysis of the likely impact of CRD IV on lending to SMEs, this paper endorses UEAPME’s reaction to CRD IV and makes a set of ten recommendations for European policymakers in order to address the shortcomings of current proposals.

Nurturing Europe’s spirit of enterprise: how entrepreneurial executives mobilize organizations to innovate

Forbes, December 2011. This report uses a survey of 1,245 European executives in order to assess how personalities, external support mechanisms and internal structures determine firms ability to innovate

Parliamentary financial scrutiny in hard times

Gillian Rollason, December 2011. Parliamentary scrutiny of public spending is essential for holding governments to account for money spent. Case studies conducted in Australia, Canada, Ireland and the UK show that it is not taken seriously enough. The outdated ‘estimates supply votes’ process used in Westminster-style systems is a key barrier to effective parliamentary scrutiny of government finances. Governments may use the financial crisis to reduce scrutiny rather than enhance it. Parliamentarians, even those on select committees, are not trained for such scrutiny and their powers of intervention are limited or non-existent.