ACCT1046 Study Guide - Final Guide: Myer, Financial Plan, Security Certificate

80 views42 pages
School
Department
Course
Professor
Accounting in Organizations and society
Lecture 1:
Module 1 – Organizations, Accounting and Accountability
Topic 1 – What is ‘accounting’, what do ‘accountants’ do, and why?
What is accounting?
-The provision of information about aspects of the performance of, and
resources held or controlled by an entity to a particular group of people with
an interest, or stake in the organization
oCalled stakeholders (internal and external)
Internal (senior management)
External (Employees – no access to all plans/decisions
therefore external)
Can be an:
Individual
Group
Organization
oInterested in the objectives of the organization
-Providing information to stakeholders
-Aspects of Performance:
oProviding goods and services/trading
oSocial – donations/scholarships – working conditions
oEnvironmental
-Resources:
oMoney
oCapital
oInfrastructure
-Entity:
oCompany
oUniversity
oChurch
Accounting vs. Accountability
Accountability is concerned with the relationships between groups, individuals,
organizations and the rights to information that such relationships entail. Simply
stated, accountability is the duty to provide an account of the actions for which one is
held responsible.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Unlock document

This preview shows pages 1-3 of the document.
Unlock all 42 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in
-The nature of the relationships - and the attendant rights to information - is
contextually determined by the society in which the relationship occurs.
Therefore, we can see that accountability involves two responsibilities:
-To undertake certain actions to meet stakeholders expectation
-To provide a reckon in or ‘account’ of those actions to the stakeholders –
(account – information)
The role of accounting:
-Inform relevant stakeholders about the extent to which the actions for which
an organization is deemed to be responsible, have actually been fulfilled.
-A way of discharging accountability
oHow?
By preparing reports
-Don’t always have to be in financial terms
What accounts should we prepare?
-Different people will have different vies about the responsibilities of
organizations
-Looking at the broader picture
-Therefore will hold different views about what accounts should be produced
by an organization
oCarbon emission
oWater usage
oPollution
-Not just profit and loss summary/balance sheet
An Accountability model:
-Assessments or decisions that need to be made as part of the process of
reporting aspects of an organizations performance:
oWhy would an entity disclose information?
Managements motivations to report:
Ethical motivation
Impact on society and the environment
Protecting owner/shareholder value
To comply with legal requirements
Mandatory
Economic performance
forestall efforts to introduce more onerous
disclosure/accounting regulations
influence the perceived legitimacy of the organization
manage particular stakeholder groups
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Unlock document

This preview shows pages 1-3 of the document.
Unlock all 42 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in
-how to provide the information
increase the wealth of the shareholders and the managers of the
organization
belief that they are accountable
oWho are the stakeholders to whom the accounts will be directed?
When motivated by managerial reasoning and strategizing
Reporting to those who hold the greatest economic
power
When motivated by ethical/moral reasoning
Reporting towards those most affected by the operations
of the organization
oWhat types of disclosures will be made?
Involves dialogue between the organization and its identified
target stakeholders (stakeholder engagement)
oHow should the information be disclosed?
There needs to be various reporting frameworks and
conventions are available and can address different aspects of
performance
Organizational objectives influence the form of accounting undertaken
-Primary objective is to maximize profits (not providing information about
economic and social)
oAccounting/reporting will fixate on financial measures
-Primate objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
oAccounting/reporting will focus on emissions, improvements in
emissions, targets and so forth
Spending lots of money
Held accountable
oProviding the information
The changing role of ‘accountants’
-Traditionally an accountant primarily focused on:
oFinancial performance
oFinancial Position
-Not, it is more:
oSocial and environment performance
Social = better working conditions
oClimate Change
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Unlock document

This preview shows pages 1-3 of the document.
Unlock all 42 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in

Document Summary

The provision of information about aspects of the performance of, and resources held or controlled by an entity to a particular group of people with an interest, or stake in the organization: called stakeholders (internal and external) External (employees no access to all plans/decisions therefore external) Organization: interested in the objectives of the organization. Aspects of performance: providing goods and services/trading, social donations/scholarships working conditions, environmental. Accountability is concerned with the relationships between groups, individuals, organizations and the rights to information that such relationships entail. Simply stated, accountability is the duty to provide an account of the actions for which one is held responsible. The nature of the relationships - and the attendant rights to information - is contextually determined by the society in which the relationship occurs. Therefore, we can see that accountability involves two responsibilities: To undertake certain actions to meet stakeholders expectation. To provide a reckon in or account" of those actions to the stakeholders (account information)

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers

Related Documents

Related Questions