Recently, there has been increasing demand by stakeholders for firms to demonstrate how they create value within the context of their operating environment. Consequently, a new reporting approach, integrated reporting (IR), was conceptualised with its development linked to the firm's integrated thinking (IT). Yet very little is known about the effects of IT on firms' reporting decisions. Hence, we investigate whether IT influences firms' decision to publish an assured sustainability report. Using an international dataset, we find that IT is positively associated with sustainability reporting assurance. We also find that this association is moderated by the type of legal system such that for firms in code law countries, the IT effects are reduced.Nevertheless, the effects of IT remain strong, indicating that IT is important for reporting decisions regardless of the firm's contextual setting. These findings have implications for policymakers and organisations interested in promoting high-quality sustainability reporting.

The increasing sophistication of fraud has necessitated the use of forensic accounting tools to facilitate successful investigation. Perpetuation of fraud in the Nigerian public sector has reached alarming levels. This problem motivated the discussion on whether forensic accounting can facilitate detection and prevention of fraud in Nigeria. This chapter evaluates the relevance of forensic accounting on fraud detection in Nigerian public sector using a case study of Bayelsa state. This chapter finds that forensic accounting enhances fraud detection. The chapter consequently recommends that professional accounting bodies should constantly conduct forensic accounting training for accountants, and there is a need for the inclusion of forensic accounting in the syllabus of all the tertiary institutions offering accountancy in Nigeria. Further, the services of forensic accountants should be engaged more in Nigeria.

The necessity for forensic accounting has grown with the increased incidents of financial fraud. This is not unrelated to the inability of statutory audit to discover and prevent fraudulent acts. This chapter provides discussions on the need and prospects of forensic accounting in developing countries as it may address the prevalence of business failures and financial crimes resulting from audit failure and the growth of creative accounting. Although the chapter provides a general overview for developing countries, there is a specific focus on Nigeria, a developing country characterized by high level of corruption. The findings show that the use of forensic accounting is still at a very low level owing to the high cost of forensic accounting tools and the time and money involved in acquiring the requisite skills. The chapter recommends that forensic accountants nonetheless are suitable to eliminate economic crimes and corruption to improve growth in the economy in developing countries.