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The figure pictures in financial statements may seem motionless. Yet, movement is essential to an enterprise. The analytical service of an account is best reflected by the relative rates of inflow and outflow of data. At the same time, the functional logic inherent in capital-income accounting does not support “valuation” as an appropriate part of accounting objectives. This is so because transaction experience is objective in nature whereas valuation is subjective. And the logic relevant to accounting actions would seem to include relevance as a key term because boundaries are functional aspects of accounting.

For nearly two decades, accounting educators have debated whether to continue with a preparer approach, or adopt a user perspective, or a blended model in the introductory financial accounting course. We examine the extent to which accounting programs have chosen to employ each approach, the factors that influenced their selection, as well as the relative importance of each factor. We also explore institutional and course characteristics associated with the choice of instructional method.

Our results indicate that one-third of programs employ the user perspective, and one-fifth the traditional preparer approach, while nearly half use a blend of the two. Programs using the preparer approach tend to focus on the accounting major (e.g., performance and career goals). In contrast, user approach institutions appear to emphasize performance issues and career paths of non-accounting majors.

The characteristics of accounting objectives are formed by the needs that exert pressure on its function to deal with enterprise prior experience. As such, the actions of accountants should be influenced less by postulated principles and more by understanding the compelling concepts that strongly influence accounting action.

Accounting concepts undertake to verbalize ideological building blocks. Each represents a unit that may be assembled in varying groups. The resulting organized communication can be represented neither by a list of concepts nor by a collection of definitions. A mere sequence of presentation will not do either. Instead, it is more informative to select several concepts and bring their interrelations under close examination. This is so because concepts associated in groups can illuminate the inner nature of enterprise accounting. Arranging the data from related accounts into groups, such as an earnings statement, will also present a grouping of ideas that give the accounts added meaning. Related to this, it is significant to note that ideas are more basic than words or digits. Learning to write involves more than forming letters and spelling words. A composition or discourse is more an arrangement of ideas than of words. Similarly, in accounting, an exchange-priced transaction expresses an idea made concrete and objective by decisions in the markets. These transaction ideas are distributed among a variety of accounts. Each account expresses an idea; its name, form, and content derived from specific concepts. Awareness of these concepts is a necessary factor for constructing an account category, for arranging a financial statement, and for interpreting meaning from data reported therein.

This study aims at examining the value relevance of tax-related information in Canada. Tax-related information in this study includes taxable income, tax aggressiveness, and tax risk (i.e., unsustainable tax planning).

This study analyzes the Canadian listed firms covering the period of 2012–2021 using the Feltham–Ohlson valuation model.

The findings are: (1) taxable income provides incremental value relevance information; (2) tax risk reduces the value relevance of both taxable income and accounting income and (3) tax aggressiveness reduces the value relevance of accounting income but not of taxable income. Further tests show that the COVID-19 pandemic increases the value relevance of taxable income but decreases the value relevance of accounting income. An analysis of the association between stock price volatility and tax-related information documents that taxable income and accounting income are both informative. Tax risk reduces the informativeness of taxable income, but tax aggressiveness and the pandemic do not.

The sample in this study covers the period up to 2021. Future research could use more recent data. Additionally, this study examines the Canadian setting. The results may not be generalized to other countries that have different accounting and tax rules.

This study sheds light on whether tax aggressiveness and tax risk affect the value relevance of taxable income and accounting income separately. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first study that examines whether tax-related information is informative about stock price volatility.

This study aims to investigate the impact of ethical accounting practices on financial reporting quality by using the extended theory of planned behaviour (ETPB) and integrating religiosity as a moderating variable.

Using a survey method, data was obtained from 371 chartered accountants who were in good standing as of April 2023. The collected data were then analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

The results revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between ethical accounting practices (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control and ethical judgement) and financial reporting quality of accounting practitioners. Furthermore, a moderation test was conducted, which demonstrated that religiosity enhances the positive correlation between ethical accounting constructs (attitude, subjective norm and ethical judgement) and financial reporting.

Leading by example, top-level management should actively promote a culture of religiosity that prioritises integrity and adherence to financial reporting requirements.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the very few ethics studies in accounting that demonstrates that the application of the ETPB improves financial reporting quality in a context fraught with allegations of moral breaches by accountants.

The primary objective of this research is to chronicle how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other United States Federal Government Agencies (USFGA) agencies have played a role in shaping the trajectory of financial reporting for sustainability, with a particular emphasis on triple bottom line (TBL). This exploration extends to other indexes reporting sustainability data encompassed within financial, social and environmental reporting.

This study adopts an illustrative methodology, utilizing data sourced from governmental, business and international organizational documents.

Sustainability accounting predominantly finds its place within the framework of TBL. However, it is crucial to note that sustainability reporting remains voluntary rather than mandatory. Nevertheless, accounting firms and professional accounting societies have embraced it as a supplementary facet of financial accounting reporting.

The research highlights the historical evolution of sustainability within the USFGA and corporate entities. Corporations’ interest in accounting for sustainability performances has significantly contributed to the emergence of voluntary sustainability accounting rules, as embodied by the TBL.