HARP Seminar, presented by Dr Joanna Krasodomska: "Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive through the eyes of accountants: What multi-level pressures explain their attitudes?"

Abstract

Purpose –The study aims to identify pressures influencing accountants' attitudes toward stricter regulation of sustainability reporting under the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Design/methodology/approach – The study uses social identity theory and a multilevel model of social change as the theoretical framework. The findings are based on survey responses gathered from 1,076 accountants in 2021. The logit regression was used to determine accountants’ attitudes toward the future extension of sustainability reporting to a larger number of companies and the introduction of mandatory sustainability reporting assurance.

Findings – Research results suggest that pressures on transnational (international regulations and standards related to sustainability reporting), organizational (benefits associated with sustainability reporting), and individual (knowledge of the sustainability reporting regulations) levels positively affect accountants’ attitudes toward the expanded scope of reporting and mandatory assurance. The pressures on the national level captured by membership in the professional accountants’ association are not relevant.

Practical implications – The findings may be of interest to regulators, standard setters and educators who want to help ensure that the social identity of accountants is changing to address new sustainability reporting challenges.

Originality/value – The paper adds to the understanding of the differences in accountants’ attitudes towards the changes in the sustainability reporting landscape by identifying pressures on transnational, organizational, and individual levels as significant.

Keywords: Directive 2014/95/EU, Non-Financial Reporting Directive, NFDR, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, CSRD, social identity theory, multilevel model of social change

Short Bio on Presenter: Dr Joanna Krasodomska is an Associate Professor in the Department of Financial Accounting at Krakow University of Economics (CUE) in Poland. She received her habilitation in 2015 (CUE, Faculty of Finance and Law) and Ph.D. in 2006 (Jagiellonian University). Her publications address both corporate financial and non-financial reporting, and her primary research interests centre on non-financial disclosures, integrated reporting, stakeholder engagement, and extended external reporting assurance.
Dr Krasodomska is a member of the European Accounting Association (EAA) Stakeholder Reporting Committee. She was also appointed as Poland Representative to the EAA Board (2021-2024). She is a member of the International Association for Accounting Education & Research (IAAER), Accountants Association in Poland (AAP), (Polish) Association for Sustainability in Finance & Accounting (ASFA). In 2016-2018 she was a member of the Academic Research Support Group appointed by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC).