Business Sustainability | Code of Ethics &

Corporate Governance

USQ UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

MBA - ACC5502

Accounting & Financial Management / S1 / 2015

M B G Wimalarathna

[FCA, FCMA, MCIM, FMAAT, MCPM, (MBA–PIM/USJ)]

Introduction Corporate Governance & Code of Ethics has become a vital element in profession of accounting as well as business environment as a whole.

Corporate Governance basically discusses how to govern/manage the entity’s overall activities with best practices while code of ethics essentially guide professionals (accountants) to work in an ethical manner.

Business sustainability plays a pivotal role in this aspect which basically urge entities to practice good governance in all activities.

Business Sustainability A growing environmental and societal awareness has put pressure on entities to consider their non-financial impact (positive and negative contribution) to the environment as a whole.

To cope with this expectation, new frameworks and techniques are being developed and adopted under an overarching theme of Business Sustainability.

Business sustainability is doing business by protecting environment

and society while achieving its target profit/return. Business

sustainability is mainly dealt with sustainable development.

Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs

of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs in the future too.

Key drivers of Business Sustainability Amidst many, following are the key drivers of business sustainability.

Competition for resources

Climate Change

Economic Globalization

Connectivity and Communication

Reporting and disclosure: everything company does need

disclosure. Reporting and disclosure on business sustainability

helps entities to enhance corporate image. It has become a well

established practice that every entity publishes its contribution to

the environment annually through annual report.

Triple Bottom Line

Triple bottom line is treated as three “pillars” of business

sustainability. 3BL/TBL urges business organizations’ to act and fulfill

environmental and social needs while achieving business goals.

Sometimes the phenomena of TBL referred to as People| Planet|

Profit, the three concepts have been used widely to discuss and

disseminate information regarding business sustainability.

An organization which practice TBL effectively could easily be

achieve sustainable development in return since TBL and

sustainability depicts close positive co-relationship.

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Principles of Business Sustainability Performance

Ethics The Company establishes, promotes, monitors and maintains ethical

standards and practices in dealing with all company stakeholders.

Governance The company manages all of its resources conscientiously and effectively,

recognizing the fiduciary duty of corporate boards and managers to focus on

the interest of all company stakeholders.

Transparency The company provides timely disclosure of information about its products

and services, and activities, thus permitting stakeholders to make informed

decisions.

Business relationships The company engages in fair trading practices with suppliers, distributors,

agents and partners.

Financial return The company compensates providers of capital with a competitive return on

investment and the protection of company assets.

Community

involvement/economic

development

The company fosters a mutually beneficial relationship between the

corporation and the community in which it is sensitive to the culture, context

and needs of the community.

Value of products and

services

The company respects the needs, desires and rights of its customers and

strives to provide the highest levels of products and services values.

Employment practices The company engages in human resource management practices that

promote personal and professional employee development, diversity, and

empowerment.

Protection of the

environment

The company strives to protect and promote sustainable development with

products, processes, services and activities.

Theories of Business Sustainability Key theories of business sustainability are as follows.

Corporate social responsibility

Shareholder value

Stakeholder theory

Stewardship theory

A corporation usually has a large number of “stakeholders” who are individuals or groups that have an interest in the entity’s affairs. They include share holders (the owners), employees, creditors, suppliers, government and other interested parties.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the responsibility of entity towards all stakeholders, including society in general and the physical environment within which it operates.

Theories of Business Sustainability Shareholder value: It is well established and acknowledged that main goal/objective of an every entity is to “Maximize its owners’ (shareholders’) wealth.” Due to separation of control between owners and managers, the owners need to set up a mechanisms to ensure that managers make decisions that they themselves would have made had they been in control. (Agency Theory)

Stakeholder theory holds that the purpose of the entity is to work for the good of all stakeholder groups, not just to maximize shareholders’ wealth. Employees, governments, customers and communities all have an interest in the affairs of the entity.

Stewardship theory is almost carries the same position as stakeholder theory. The theory suggests that motive and all related activities of the board members should go beyond a perspective of pure self-interest. Board members are expected to meet the prime goal of enhancing shareholders’ wealth as well as serving community and environment at large at the same time.

Professional Code of Ethics Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia introduced following

fundamental principles for its members which are applicable to all. Integrity

Be straightforward, honest and sincere in your approach to professional work.

Objectivity Be fair and do not allow prejudice, conflict of interest or

bias to override your objectivity. Maintain an impartial attitude and protect the integrity of

your professional services. Confidentiality

Respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of your work and do not disclose any such information to a third party without specific authority or unless there is a legal or professional duty to disclose it.

Professional Competence and due care

Perform professional service with due care, competence and diligence.

Maintain professional knowledge and skills at required level.

Refrain from performing any services that you are not competent-to carry out unless assistance is obtained.

Ethical Behaviour

Conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the good reputation of the profession and refrain from any conduct that might bring discredit to the entire profession.

In addition to above, following will also be treated as principles of code of ethics.

The public interest

Independence (members in public practice)

Technical standards

Ethical decision making methods

Langenderfer and Rockness (1990)

Determine the facts of the case

Determine the ethical issues in the case

Determine the norms, principles and values related to the case

Determine the alternative courses of action

Determine the best course of action consistent with 3 above

Determine the consequences of each possible course of action identified in 4

Decide the course of action

St James Ethics Center

What are the relevant facts?

Which of my values make these facts significant?

What assumptions am I making?

What are the weaknesses in my own position?

Would I be happy for my actions to be open to public scrutiny?

Would I be happy if my family knew what I’d done?

What will doing this do to my character or the character of my organization?

What would happen if everybody took this course of action?

How would I feel if my actions were to impact upon a child or parent?

Have I really thought through the issues?

Have I considered the possibility that the ends may not justify the means?

Carryout business in an ethical manner In recent past, numerous business ethical issues have arisen in both profession of

accounting & business world which were discussed through public media. Most of these included insider dealing, price skimming, selling of harmful products and pollute the environment. Following are some of the emergent topics due to unethical business practices.

Whistle blowing

Whistle blowing is the term used to describe the act of an employee exposing an entity’s unethical practices.

Insider dealing/Trading

Simply, Insider dealing is the buying and/or selling of entity’s stock (shares) based on inside knowledge. This occurs a responsible officer within the organization disclose the confidential information which are not yet published by the entity.

Some argue that insider dealing is not an unethical act since information suppose to disclose to the public. But some argue it is an unethical due to the fact that information not yet officially published.

Ethical Investment Ethical investment means investors buying only the selected entities’ shares which have value systems similar to their own. Bribery Bribery is a payment for a favor which results in someone acting in a way that is contrary to that demanded by the situation. Bribery basically different from receiving gifts, tipping or facilitation payments. But under certain circumstances, those also tend to define as a Bribe. Fraud Fraud is an acting deceptively and dishonestly usually with the financial motive in mind. Forensic Accounting Forensic Accounting is a new dimension of accounting profession in which investigation of money trails for the purpose of reporting to the law courts will be a main task/duty.

Corporate Governance Corporate Governance is all about good governance. This means

directions/control and management of the entity with good motive by the members of the Director Board. Generally, Directors owe the following duties/tasks (legal) to their company. To act in good faith, in the best interest of the company. To act with care and diligence. To avoid improper use of information or position. To avoid complex between their role as a director and any of their personal

interests.

Under principle 4 of the ASX guidelines for good corporate governance, it is recommended that: The chief executive officer and the chief financial officer should state in writing to the board that the company’s financial reports present a true and fair view, in all material respects, of the company’s financial condition and operational results and are in accordance with relevant accounting standards. ASX – Australian Securities Exchange

Corporate Governance (contd.)

The board should establish an audit committee. The audit committee should consist of: only non-executive directors a majority of independent directors an independent chairperson, who is not chairperson of the

board at least three members The audit committee should have a formal charter.

The entity should provide the following information: details of those

on the audit committee, the number of meetings and attendees of the audit committee, and explanations of any departures from the recommendations as stated above should be included in the corporate governance section of the annual report. It is also recommended that the committee charter and the procedures for selection and appointment of external auditors are made publicly available.

Though the corporate governance basically deals with the rights and obligations of companies’ key management (Directors). It also considers the duties & rights of shareholders and other various stakeholders.

The practice of corporate governance defer from one country to another. Commonly, following structure could be seen in corporate governance.

Legal

Regulation

ASX listing Requirements and statements of accounting practice

Codes of conduct Guidelines & Statements of Best Practice

Business ethics

Role of an Accountant

Accountants – with their information systems, performance appraisal expertise, and qualities such as integrity, objectivity and independence can help entities discharge their social and environmental obligations through the following types of activities:

Modifying existing systems to incorporate environmental and social revenues and expenditures.

Rethinking the use of some accounting techniques (such as investment and performance appraisal) because they ignore the environmental and social elements.

Having a greater awareness of the future by bringing to account potential contingent liabilities, changing payback periods, and determining the cost of environmental and social initiatives as well as the cost of not undertaking such initiatives.

Expanding and developing new information systems to incorporate environmental and social information (for example, by including information on incorporation on the whole lifecycle of a product and not just the production cost).

Including environmental and social information in external reporting. The accountant’s role goes beyond providing financial information to satisfy statutory requirements. It includes the provision of information – relevant, reliable, accurate and timely – on a number of issues for various stakeholders.

Developing systems that not only capture the environmental and social activities but also evaluate the extent to which the activities meet the objectives.

Attempting to measure both the cost of environmental and social activities as well as the benefits.