• 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)

• 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.

• Classic and basic theory
• New theory
• Teacher’s own research
• Methodology
• Models

• Development of research questions
• Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
• Peer review including Peer-to-peer
• Students conduct independent research-like activities under supervision

Examples of course required and optional readings:

Bebbington, J. and Larrinaga, C. (2014), Accounting for Sustainable Development: and Exploration. Accounting Organizations and Society, 39, pp. 395-413.

Bebbington, J. and Rubin, A. (2022). Accounting in the Anthropocene: A roadmap for stewardship. Accounting and Business Research, (52)5, 582-596.

Ben-Amar, W., Comyns, B., Martinez, I. (2022), The COVID-19 pandemic : opportunity or challenge for climate change risk disclosure?. Accounting, Auditing, & Accountability Journal, online-first.

Cho, C. H., Laine, M., Roberts, R. W., Rodrigue, M. (2015), Organized hypocrisy, organizational façades, and sustainability reporting. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 40, pp. 78-94.

Figge, F. et. al. (2002), The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard. Linking sustainability management to business strategy. Business Strategy and the Environment, (11)5, 269-284.

Hansen, E. and Schaltegger, S. (2016). The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard: A Systematic Review of Architectures. Journal of Business Ethics, (133), 193-221.

Hopwood, A.G., (2009), Accounting for the environment, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 34, pp. 433-439.

Hubbard, G. (2009), Measuring Organizational Performance: Beyond the Triple Bottom Line. Business Strategy and the Environment, (18), 117-191.

Maas, K. et al. (2016), Integrating corporate sustainability assessment, management accounting, control, and reporting. Journal of Cleaner Production, (136), 237-248.

Nicholls, A. (2009), ‘We do good things, don’t we?’: ‘Blended Value Accounting’ in social entrepreneurship. Accounting Organizations and Society, (34), 755-769.

Orsato, R.J. (2009), Sustainability Strategies. When Does It Pay to Be Green?, Houndmills UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

Parisi, C. and Bekier, J. (2022), Assessing and managing the impact of COVID-19: a study of six European cities participating in a circular economy project. Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal, (35)1, 97-107.

Simnett, R. and Huggins, A.L. (2015), Integrated reporting and assurance: where can research add value?. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 6(1), pp. 29-53.