Facilitating accountability in corporate sustainability reporting through Spotlight Accounting
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal
ISSN: 0951-3574
Article publication date: 22 December 2020
Issue publication date: 1 March 2021
Abstract
Purpose
It is difficult for corporate sustainability reporting (CSR) to provide accountability to stakeholders. This paper assesses whether accountability-based CSR systems can be created through the application of Spotlight Accounting and WikiRate as a hybrid forum.
Design/methodology/approach
The current paper explores the utility of Spotlight Accounting for CSR through assessing its application to a hybrid forum, WikiRate. This process involved engaging student researchers to collect CSR data from the United Nations Global Compact's (UNGC) corporate action group (CAG) and recording this information into the WikiRate platform. Aggregate analysis was conducted to assess the limitations and challenges of the data to inform decision-making.
Findings
Spotlight Accounting exposes challenges within traditional applications of CSR. These challenges impact comparability, decision usefulness and accountability of CSR data for stakeholders.
Practical implications
This paper provides recommendations to enhance the accessibility and relevance of company information to assist in the provision of Spotlight Accounting. In doing so, it highlights the usefulness of CSR to leverage greater accountability between corporations and society.
Originality/value
This paper applies the emerging practices of Spotlight Accounting and presents it as an alternative way to research and conceptualise external accounts, reporting and accountability. This form of accounting has the potential to enhance communications and partnerships between companies and society as well as challenge dominate power dynamics held by corporations.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the WikiRate staff, namely, Theresa Heithaus and Richard Mills, for their collaboration on this research project, as well as their ongoing support for their research and support for higher education sustainability teaching. The authors also thank the involvement and collaboration of the United Nations' corporate action group working party, the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and Principles of Responsible Management Education.The research in this report was funded in part by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program for the project titled ChainReact, under grant agreement No 687967; and in part by the University of Wollongong's University Internationalisation Committee Grant (2018). The funding supported the initial development of the WikiRate platform, the correspondence with the CAG and the data collection and analysis.
Citation
Perkiss, S., Bayerlein, L. and Dean, B.A. (2021), "Facilitating accountability in corporate sustainability reporting through Spotlight Accounting", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 34 No. 2, pp. 397-420. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-08-2019-4142
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited