• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of corporate sustainability accounting, circular economy, finance, accountability, and reporting; and the continuing debates within the literature.
• Be able to explain the current theoretical and practical developments in the sustainability field, especially in relation to policy, performance management, accountability and reporting.
• Show their familiarity with the tools covered in the course, such as sustainability dashboards and control panels and their use in order to focus, align and report measures.
• Define the scope and limitations of sustainability in relation to the fields of accounting, management accounting and finance.
• Be in the position to demonstrate their ability to evaluate case situations and provide clear recommendations; and be able to present their thoughts and analysis in a well-structured and clear manner.

We live in a world of great challenges and high expectations in relation to the social and environmental footprint. Conscious attention to circular economy and sustainable development in the economic, environmental and social domains benefits both the organization and its stakeholders. The advantages for the organization may include improved risk management, insight into new market opportunities, better access to capital markets, eco-efficiency and an improved reputation which will enhance trust of consumers and employees.

The focus of this course is on the role of entities (governments, non-government organizations (NGOs), firms and individuals) and their accountability, accounting and reporting issues in the context of sustainable development. Corporate social and environmental accountability, accounting and reporting is concerned with measuring, managing and communicating the social and environmental effects of a corporation's economic actions to particular stakeholders and to society at large.

Main Themes

• Circular Economy

• Sustainable Management Accounting

• Eco-efficiency

• Life cycle assessment (LCA)

• Sustainability Reporting guidelines and Assurance Services

• External Financial Reporting of Environmental Liabilities

• External Corporate Financial Reporting of Sustainable Business Practices

• Sustainable finance

• Socially responsible Investing (SRI)

• Sustainable Value Added (SVA)

• Social Return on Investment (SROI)

• Environmental Sustainability Indexes

The course is based on individual readings and combines lectures with group work and plenary discussions, plus case presentations.

Examples of course required and optional readings:

Adams, C.A. and McNicholas, P. (2007), Making a difference Sustainability reporting, accountability and organisational change, Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 382-402.
Blowfield, M. and Murray, A. (2008), “Chapter 11: Socially Responsible Investing”. In Blowfield, M. and Murray, A., Corporate responsibility. A critical introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 280-303.
Epstein, M.J. (2004), The Identification, Measurement, and reporting of Corporate Social Impacts: Past, Present, and Future. Advances in Environmental Accounting and Management, Vol. 2, pp. 1-29.
Figge, F. et. al. (2002), The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard. Linking sustainability management to business strategy. Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol. 11, No. 5, pp.269-284.
Gray, R (2007) Taking a Long View on What We Now Know About Socialand EnvironmentalAccountability and Reporting, Issues in Social & Environmental Accounting, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 169-198.
Hart, S. L. and Milstein, M. B. (2003), “Creating Sustainable Value,” Academy of Management Executive, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 56-67.
Johnston R. (1997), A Critique to Life Cycle Analysis: Paper Products. In Johnston R., The Industrial Green Game, Washington DC: National Academy Press, pp.225-233.
Kaplan R.S. and Norton D.P. (2004), Strategy Maps, Boston: Harvard Business School Press, pp.163-195.
Lingane, A. and Olsen, S. (2004), “Guidelines for Social Return on Investment”, California management review, Vol. 46, N. 3, pp. 135-66.
Matten, D. and Moon, J. (2008), “Implicit” and “Explicit” CSR: A conceptual framework for a comparative understanding of corporate social responsibility” Academy of Management Review 33(2): 404-424.
Nierynck, E. (1999), Life-cycle assessment. In Hens, L., Nath, B., and  Compton P. A. (Eds.), Environmental Management in Practice: Instruments for Environmental Management, Volume 1, New York: Rouledge , pp. 211-239.
O'Dweyer, B. and Owen, D.L. (2005), Assurance statement practice in environmental, social and sustainability reporting: A critical evaluation, British Accounting Review, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 205-229.
Owen, D.L., (2007), Assurance practice in sustainability reporting, in Unerman, J., Babbington, J. and O'Dwyer, B., Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, New York: Routledge, pp.168-183.
Parisi, C. and Bekier, J. (2021) Assessing and managing the impact of COVID-19: a study of six
European cities participating in a circular economy project, Accounting Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. Ahead of Print, No. Ahead of Print. Pinkse, J. and Kolk, A. (2007), Multinational corporations and Emissions Trading: Strategic Responses to New Institutional Constraints, European Management Journal, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 441–452.
Porter, B., Simon, J. and Hatherly, D. (2008) Principles of External Auditing, John Wiley and Sons, pp. 723-761.
Schaltegger, S.,  Burritt, R., and  Petersen H. (2003), Environmental Management Systems and Eco-control. In Schaltegger, S.,  Burritt, R., and  Petersen H., An Introduction to Corporate Environmental Management: Striving for Sustainability, Sheffield UK: Greenleaf publishing, pp. 293-337.
Weishaar, S. (2007), CO₂ emission allowance allocation mechanisms, allocative efficiency and the environment: a static and dynamic perspective, European Journal of Law and Economics, Vol. 24, pp.29–70.