Search results

This paper aims to document international evidence of the impact of a board-level governance bundle [size, independence, CEO duality, gender diversity and sustainability committee (SC)] on sustainability reporting (SR) and, separately, on its three dimensions (economic, environmental and social).

The sample includes 370 listed firms from 50 countries. A GRI standards-based disclosure index was constructed to quantify SR across various reporting media.

The baseline findings show that SC positively affects SR and its three dimensions. Board size also has a significant and positive impact on SR and two of its dimensions (economic and social). Similarly, board independence and CEO duality have a significant but negative association with SR and the same two dimensions. Finally, board gender diversity has no significant impact on SR and all its three dimensions.

The findings that only SC significantly influences SR, and its three dimensions, have important implications for corporate governance reforms internationally to improve SR in countries where such committees are not yet part of the board of directors’ sub-committees.

Overall, this study contributes to board characteristics–SR literature and holds significant theoretical and practical implications.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate governance and internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Uganda.

This study was cross-sectional and correlational. In all, 70 Ugandan MFIs were surveyed and the data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 to test the nine hypotheses which were put forward. The hypothesized relationships were tested using the ordinary least squares regression.

The findings based on multiple regression analysis suggest that board role performance, expertise and Association of Microfinance Institutions in Uganda (AMFIU) membership are significant predictors of the ICFR. However, board independence and separation of CEO and chairman roles are not significant predictors. The results also show that the firm-specific control variables (auditor type, size, accounting qualification and age) are also not significant.

This study has limitations in that it is cross-sectional, thus limiting monitoring changes in behavior over time and also because the effectiveness of the ICFR was assessed using perceptions.

Efforts by regulators and other stakeholders to improve the ICFR must focus on the corporate governance aspects such as board expertise and ensure that the board performs its roles.

The paper adds to the existing literature on the corporate governance and ICFR by documenting the relationship between the corporate governance and ICFR. The study complements the previous studies on the ICFR by demonstrating that board expertise and board role performance improve the ICFR. Such evidence does not currently exist. The findings also indicate that an MFI which is a member of AMFIU was found to have better ICFR supporting self-regulation.

This research develops a set of specific modern slavery disclosure principles for organisations. It critically evaluates seven legislative Acts from five different countries and 16 guidelines and directives from international organisations. By undertaking an in-depth content analysis, the research derives an index comprising nine principles and 49 disclosure items to promote best-practice disclosure in tackling modern slavery. We promote nine active principles for organisations to implement and disclose: recognising modern slavery practices, identifying risks, publishing a modern slavery risk prevention policy, proactive in assessing and addressing risks, assessing efficacy of actions, garnering internal and external oversight, externally communicating modern slavery risk mitigation, implementing a suppliers' assessment and code of conduct to ensure transparency and specifying consequences for non-compliance. The research is motivated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, which focusses on economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work. The research findings will assist practitioners seeking to discover and disclose evidence of modern slavery practices and their mitigation to minimise and encourage the elimination of this unethical and illegal practice in domestic and global supply chains and operations.