Adoption of Australian IFRS: Are IFRS "fit for purpose"? The project seeks to explore the usefulness of modifications made to company earnings based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS; Australia’s mandatory accounting standards) by financial report preparers and users. The project intends to show how share markets respond to adjustments to IFRS earnings and provide evidence to assist standard setters and regulators in policy decisions to strengthen the financial reporting frame ....Adoption of Australian IFRS: Are IFRS "fit for purpose"? The project seeks to explore the usefulness of modifications made to company earnings based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS; Australia’s mandatory accounting standards) by financial report preparers and users. The project intends to show how share markets respond to adjustments to IFRS earnings and provide evidence to assist standard setters and regulators in policy decisions to strengthen the financial reporting framework and to improve the comparability and transparency of financial information. A more robust framework would improve capital market efficiency, promote economic growth in Australia and support the goal of making Australia a world-leading financial market.Read moreRead less
Extended reporting and assurance for not-for-profit organisations. This project aims to improve the relevance and reliability of extended reporting now being required of not-for-profit organisations (NFPOs). Society is increasingly demanding that NFPOs disclose additional information beyond financial information, as evidenced by the service performance reporting and integrated reporting initiatives. These reporting initiatives better align the reporting with the mission of NFPOs: to achieve outc ....Extended reporting and assurance for not-for-profit organisations. This project aims to improve the relevance and reliability of extended reporting now being required of not-for-profit organisations (NFPOs). Society is increasingly demanding that NFPOs disclose additional information beyond financial information, as evidenced by the service performance reporting and integrated reporting initiatives. These reporting initiatives better align the reporting with the mission of NFPOs: to achieve outcomes that are beyond financial returns. This project aims to evaluate and to aid the development and implementation of these extended reporting responsibilities and mechanisms that increase the quality and credibility of the information. This would improve the relevance of the information produced by NFPOs and increase confidence in extended reporting.Read moreRead less
Climate Risk Disclosure: Developing Measures for Best Practice . This project aims to investigate how firms should disclose the impact of climate-related risk on financial statements, the contribution of their own activities to climate risk and a best practice set of quantifiable metrics that can be assured by auditors. The aims will be achieved through surveys of chief financial officers and auditors and generation of input-output models at the firm level. The outcomes will benefit accountants ....Climate Risk Disclosure: Developing Measures for Best Practice . This project aims to investigate how firms should disclose the impact of climate-related risk on financial statements, the contribution of their own activities to climate risk and a best practice set of quantifiable metrics that can be assured by auditors. The aims will be achieved through surveys of chief financial officers and auditors and generation of input-output models at the firm level. The outcomes will benefit accountants and auditors who calibrate these impacts, and regulators such as the Australian Accounting Standards Board and Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, in developing accounting disclosure and auditing standards. It is vital to investors, insurers and governments for efficient resource allocation and planning. Read moreRead less
An international study of seasoned equity offerings: long term returns, earnings management, liquidity, ownership structure, and financial crisis. This study will provide critical insights into the impact of alternative mechanisms for seasoned equity offerings on liquidity and firm value. Considering the lack of confidence in financial markets during the financial crisis, this study will have significant implications regarding the current use and regulation of seasoned equity offerings.
Transforming the Australian accounting profession for the carbon challenge. The introduction of Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) will have an immediate and lasting impact on the cost of doing business in Australia. By determining how accounting processes can be optimised to identify, measure and analyse the impact of emissions trading on organisations' financial performance, this project will be a significant step in minimising the negative impact of this historic change on the Australia ....Transforming the Australian accounting profession for the carbon challenge. The introduction of Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) will have an immediate and lasting impact on the cost of doing business in Australia. By determining how accounting processes can be optimised to identify, measure and analyse the impact of emissions trading on organisations' financial performance, this project will be a significant step in minimising the negative impact of this historic change on the Australian economy, and maximising the associated business opportunities. Our findings will be the basis for giving the accounting profession the new skills to adopt a central role in meeting the carbon challenge.Read moreRead less
The role of accountants and accounting in improved sustainability management and reporting. This project will provide a comprehensive understanding of avenues available for the accounting profession to more formally embrace the management of environmental and social aspects of organisational performance. In particular, the project examines the internal sustainability information gathering and reporting processes and the use of this information by internal decision makers. We investigate, inter ....The role of accountants and accounting in improved sustainability management and reporting. This project will provide a comprehensive understanding of avenues available for the accounting profession to more formally embrace the management of environmental and social aspects of organisational performance. In particular, the project examines the internal sustainability information gathering and reporting processes and the use of this information by internal decision makers. We investigate, inter alia, existing systems/procedures used to generate data on non-financial performance and how sustainability data can be collected efficiently and better integrated through the accounting system; and how accounting systems could be extended to incorporate such information, including specific tools that are appropriate to achieve this aim.Read moreRead less
Improving the Credibility of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures. There is increasing demand for disclosures about greenhouse gas emissions around the world, and a desire to improve their credibility. This study will provide insights into the types of reporting and assurance that can be provided. In addition, it will examine the extent to which users are influenced by the greenhouse gas disclosures and assurance provided. As such, this research will provide an important knowledge base in determ ....Improving the Credibility of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures. There is increasing demand for disclosures about greenhouse gas emissions around the world, and a desire to improve their credibility. This study will provide insights into the types of reporting and assurance that can be provided. In addition, it will examine the extent to which users are influenced by the greenhouse gas disclosures and assurance provided. As such, this research will provide an important knowledge base in determining the appropriate focus of future reporting and assurance in this area. It is expected that this research will inform the development of an international and Australian assurance standard on greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less
Environmental Management Systems, reporting systems, stakeholder engagement processes and environmental performance in Australian companies. The achievement of an environmentally sustainable Australia requires improved environmental performance of Australian companies which have significant environmental impacts. This work will lead to improved environmental performance, more effective stakeholder engagement and accountability and reporting systems along with better environmental management sys ....Environmental Management Systems, reporting systems, stakeholder engagement processes and environmental performance in Australian companies. The achievement of an environmentally sustainable Australia requires improved environmental performance of Australian companies which have significant environmental impacts. This work will lead to improved environmental performance, more effective stakeholder engagement and accountability and reporting systems along with better environmental management systems. This in turn will reduce environmental impacts, create more responsive corporate cultures and increase the competitive advantage of Australian industry. Read moreRead less
Managing the world's most precious resource: The role of water accounting. This project contributes to the National Research Priorities goal to develop sustainable ways of improving water productivity, using less water in agriculture and other industries, and providing increased protection of rivers and groundwater. Robust and rigorous water accounting and assurance will allow water managers to identify and address system water losses, and will underpin increased market and investment confiden ....Managing the world's most precious resource: The role of water accounting. This project contributes to the National Research Priorities goal to develop sustainable ways of improving water productivity, using less water in agriculture and other industries, and providing increased protection of rivers and groundwater. Robust and rigorous water accounting and assurance will allow water managers to identify and address system water losses, and will underpin increased market and investment confidence in water information among water users. The collaborations between industry, academia, government and the accounting and water management professions will provide and demonstrate high profile, significant and timely international thought leadership in the emerging discipline of water accounting standards. Read moreRead less
Evaluating and enhancing the composition and functioning of multidisciplinary greenhouse gas assurance engagement teams. The purpose of this research is to understand and improve the functioning of multidisciplinary greenhouse gas assurance teams. A combination of archival and behavioural experiment research methods will be used to gain insights into current practice and techniques for optimising greenhouse gas assurance team performance.