Supporting the global profession
Accountancy, business and finance professionals have a central role in creating sustainable value for organisations.
Professionals can fulfil this role through the creation and use of relevant and reliable interconnected environmental, societal and financial information.
To help all do this, whether novice or expert in sustainability-related matters, ACCA has developed this hub of sustainability reporting insights and guidance. At its core is our eight-stage cycle to create sustainability-related information and reports that connect with financial information.
Through connected information, stakeholders can appreciate what is necessary for holistic, high-quality internal and external decision-making, and organisations will be better able to comply with value chain and regulatory requirements.
Call to action
We encourage professionals to explore the eight-stage sustainability information production cycle in brief before diving into the detailed guidance and other support materials as necessary for their role.
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The eight stage sustainability cycle
Maximise the impact from creating and using the eight-stage sustainability information cycle by applying these five key actions to account for a better world:
- Embed a sustainability-led culture and risk management throughout the organisation
- Collaborate to co-create and share sustainability-related processes, data, and insights
- Leverage technology to collect, analyse and communicate connected sustainability-related and financial information
- Employ ethical practices to mitigate ethical dilemmas that may arise from creating, communicating and using sustainability-related information
- Continually learn to keep abreast of developments in the sustainability and business landscape.
Engage with our current insights and guidance to create sustainability-related information and reports:
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More insights and examples
The approach taken by all creating and using sustainability information must firmly embed the principles of good corporate information and reporting.
Coming soon - stay engaged with our work
The opportunities for accountants to create sustainable value for organisations, economies and society are set to evolve and grow. Maximising these opportunities will require accountants to enhance their skills, behaviours and mindset on an ongoing basis.
Visit this hub regularly to reengage with our current work and to discover new support. Coming soon:
- Deeper-dive insights about the eight-stage sustainability information production cycle
- Stage 3: Identifying the risks and material information for reporting
- Stages 4, 5 and 6: Approaches to scenario analysis
- Perspectives on progress made in applying the sustainability reporting standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board and EFRAG.
Supporting the global profession
Discover ACCA’s role as a founding partner in the IFRS Foundation’s Partnership Framework for capacity building.
The framework is designed to support preparers, investors and other capital market stakeholders as they prepare to use IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. IFRS - Partnership Framework for capacity building
"Achieving quality in sustainability reporting needn't be a race; what's important is having the courage to get started, the ability to apply judgement in the context of your organisation, getting others onboard, and finding ways to improve."
Sharon Machado, head of sustainable business, ACCA
"There's no one-size-fits-all solution. We encourage all involved to take time to work through the suggested processes then design processes appropriate to their organisation and implement them. "
Hsiao Mei Chow, head of corporate reporting insights - sustainability, ACCA