Sustainability Accounting—Cognitive and Conceptual Approach

Abstract

Nowadays, the speed of changes in practical activities and scientific research in the field of sustainable development has not yet allowed to clearly indicate the role of accounting in this area. Therefore, the main goal of the paper is to present sustainability accounting in the light of positive and normative accounting theory and to propose its conceptual framework as a normative solution. Positive theories allow the author to use inductive reasoning and thus indicates the state of accounting development (opportunities and risks) in sustainable business, identifying three key gaps: theoretical, empirical and methodical. In turn, by means of normative theories, on the basis of deductive reasoning, the paper recognizes the desired directions and normatives of sustainability accounting changes. The research methodology is based on theoretical and methodological triangulation, using descriptive and comparative analysis. The main findings of the research focus on an original normative solution in the form of the author’s concept of sustainability accounting based on conclusions drawn in the light of positive and normative accounting theories. The presented potential research areas are meant to pose the directions of sustainability accounting development. The results of research may determine the future growth, importance and character of sustainability accounting in business, and thus help both shareholders and stakeholders to perceive and use company achievements for sustainable development.

Islamic (Partner) Accounting and its Comparison with International Financial Accounting Standards (IFRS)

“…In order to prove that Islamic banking has a high importance for the social and economic development of the countries, which have inherited Islamic traditions, the authors have conducted a comparative analysis of Islam banking and IFRS by the following criteria: source of law, accountability, ownership of financial assets, social responsibility, accounting operations, consideration of the society interests, information disclosure, transparency and reliability. These factors emerge from the characteristic of a sustainable accounting system [1]. In case Islamic banking is in line with all of them, it's a significant and sustainable social institute.…”

“…The accounting information system is a part of the economic information system of any organization and plays a leading role in planning, monitoring, organizing numerous activities, communication and motivation of personnel, being a resource for performing managerial functions [1]. It is the accounting information systems that provide stakeholders with the necessary information (in the form of accounting (financial), management (internal) reporting and reporting on sustainable development) which is the groundwork for making informed economic decisions of a financial and managerial nature, directed inward or outward, respectively [2].…”

True and Fair Override: Accounting Expert Opinions, Explanations from Behavioural Theories, and Discussions for Sustainability Accounting

“…They concluded that by belonging to a sustainability ranking, which is an innovation in accounting and reporting, enables a more accurate assessment of the level of sustainability performance, which, at the same time, promotes relationships with stakeholders. Zyznarska-Dworczak [45] proposes the use of a conceptual framework for sustainability accounting. Gonzalo and Garvey [46] comment that sustainability information should respect the principles related to sincerity and obtain a balance between the quantity and relevance of the information.…”

Accountability through Sustainability Data Governance: Reconfiguring Reporting to Better Account for the Digital Acceleration

“…Every topic belonging to each of these three sustainability dimensions can be converted into a distinct sustainability data item [66] by referring to sustainability accounting. This is an integrated financial system that defines the principles and procedures for measuring sustainability metrics [67,68]. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-currently cooperating with the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) to foster international convergence in sustainability reporting [69]-represents the most common methodology in practice to compute these evaluations.…”