Business sustainability has advanced from greenwashing and branding to being a business imperative. Stakeholders, including shareholders, demand, regulators require, and companies now need to report their sustainability performance. No longer is this a choice for businesses. A decade ago, fewer than 50 companies released sustainability reports, and now more 8,000 global public companies disclose sustainability performance information on some or all five economic, governance, social, ethical, and environmental (EGSEE) dimensions of sustainability performance, and this trend is expected to continue. Indeed, more than 6,000 European public companies would be required to disclose their environmental, social, governance and diversity information for their 2017 reporting year. However, the proper determination of sustainability performance, accurate and reliable reporting and independent assurance of sustainability information remain major challenges for organizations of all types and sizes. Through reading this book, you will: Identify sustainability strategies to create innovation in new products, services, energy-efficiency, environmental facilities and green initiatives. Understand the role and responsibilities of all participants in the corporate reporting process, including directors, officers, internal auditors, external auditors, legal counsel, and investors. See ways to improve public trust, investor confidence, business reputation, employee satisfaction, corporate culture, social responsibility and environmental performance. Learn all five economic, governance, social, ethical and environmental (EGSEE) dimensions of sustainability performance separately and their integrated and interactive effects on achieving the goal of creating sustainable value for all stakeholders, including shareholders. Learn how to adopt best practices in sustainability development and performance, and deliver effective integrated sustainability reporting and assurance.

Business sustainability has advanced from greenwashing and branding to being a business imperative. Stakeholders, including shareholders, demand, regulators require, and companies now need to report their sustainability performance. No longer is this a choice for businesses. A decade ago, fewer than 50 companies released sustainability reports, and now more 8,000 global public companies disclose sustainability performance information on some or all five economic, governance, social, ethical, and environmental (EGSEE) dimensions of sustainability performance, and this trend is expected to continue. Indeed, more than 6,000 European public companies would be required to disclose their environmental, social, governance and diversity information for their 2017 reporting year. However, the proper determination of sustainability performance, accurate and reliable reporting and independent assurance of sustainability information remain major challenges for organizations of all types and sizes. Through reading this book, you will: Identify sustainability strategies to create innovation in new products, services, energy-efficiency, environmental facilities and green initiatives. Understand the role and responsibilities of all participants in the corporate reporting process, including directors, officers, internal auditors, external auditors, legal counsel, and investors. See ways to improve public trust, investor confidence, business reputation, employee satisfaction, corporate culture, social responsibility and environmental performance. Learn all five economic, governance, social, ethical and environmental (EGSEE) dimensions of sustainability performance separately and their integrated and interactive effects on achieving the goal of creating sustainable value for all stakeholders, including shareholders. Learn how to adopt best practices in sustainability development and performance, and deliver effective integrated sustainability reporting and assurance.

This book examines the crucial role of investors both retail and institutional investors and interment managers, the corporate board of directors and management in collaborating to achieve financial ESP and nonfinancial ESG sustainability performance in creating shared value for all stakeholders.Business sustainability has become economic and strategic imperative with potential to create opportunities and risks for businesses. There have been considerable efforts by regulators and business organizations to encourage the board of directors and management to pursue profit-with-purpose goals in by focusing on long-term investment and integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) sustainability into their strategic and investment decisions. The concept of impact investing, of focusing on the importance and relevance of corporate investment strategies in achieving financial economic sustainability performance (ESP) in creating returns on investment and in obtaining non-financial ESG sustainability performance of providing positive social and environment impacts, is gaining acceptance by retail and institutional investors. Positive effects on the environment and society cannot be achieved without allocating scarce resources that could otherwise be used to maximize firms' financial economic performance. The role of the board of directors is to oversee the managerial function of focusing on the long-term financial ESP and non-financial ESG sustainability performance, effectively communicating sustainability performance information to all stakeholders. This book examines the crucial role of investors both retail and institutional investors and interment managers, the corporate board of directors and management in collaborating to achieve financial ESP and nonfinancial ESG sustainability performance in creating shared value for all stakeholders. This book also highlights how people, business and resources collaborate in achieving sustainability performance of creating shared value for all stakeholders. Anyone who is involved with business sustainability and corporate governance will be interested in this book.

Corporations are expanding their performance to both financial economic performance (ESP) and non-financial environmental, ethical, social and governance (EESG) sustainability performance to effectively achieve their objective of creating shared value for all stakeholders. Companies are now adopting the mission of profit-with purpose by shifting their goals to create shareholder value while fulfilling their social, environmental and governance responsibilities. Management play an important role in pursuing the mission of profit-with purpose and in integrating business sustainability into corporate culture, business environment and strategic plans and decisions. Corporations can create a right balance between the wealth-maximization for shareholders under the shareholder primacy concept while achieving the welfare-maximization for all stakeholders under the stakeholder primacy concept. The global move toward the adoption of benefit corporations and profit-with-purpose companies is inevitable as sustainability initiatives are being integrated into corporate strategies, supply chain, decisions, actions, and performance. Business Sustainability: Profit-with-Purpose Focus consists of four chapters covering all aspects of business sustainability with a keen focus on the concept of profit-with purpose. Anyone who is involved with business sustainability and corporate governance, the financial reporting process, investment decisions, legal and financial advising, audit functions, and corporate governance education will be interested in this book. Specifically, corporations, their executives and the boards of directors, internal and external auditors, accountants, lawyers, lawmakers, regulators, standard-setters, investors, business schools, and other professionals will benefit from this book.

Business Sustainability Factors of Performance, Risk, and Disclosure examines sustainability factors of performance, risk and disclosure. The five dimensions of sustainability performance are economic, governance, social, ethical, and environmental (EGSEE).Business sustainability is advancing from the greenwashing and branding to, very recently, business imperative as shareholders demand, regulators require, and companies report their sustainability performance. Sustainability has become economic and strategic imperative with potential to create opportunities and risks for businesses. Business Sustainability Factors of Performance, Risk, and Disclosure examines sustainability factors of performance, risk and disclosure. The five dimensions of sustainability performance are economic, governance, social, ethical, and environmental (EGSEE). Sustainability risks are reputational, strategic, operational, compliance, and financial (RSOCF). Sustainability disclosures are relevant to financial economic sustainability performance (ESP) and non-financial environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability performance with ethics are integrated into all other components of sustainability performance. This book offers guidance for proper measurement, recognition, and reporting of all five EGSEE dimensions of sustainability performance. It also highlights how people, business, and resources collaborate in a business sustainability and accountability model in creating shared value for all stakeholders. The three sustainability factors of performance, risk and disclosure are driven from the stakeholder primacy concept with the mission of profit-with-purpose. Anyone who is involved with business sustainability and corporate governance, the financial reporting process, investment decisions, legal and financial advising, and audit functions will benefit from this book.

Forensic accounting is gaining considerable attention as a rewarding and exciting field of accounting. Forensic accountants perform both fraud and non-fraud services. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) released its proposed new standards for its members who perform investigation and litigation forensic accounting services in December 2018. This second volume addresses fraud and non-fraud forensic accounting practice and performance. The author discusses forensic accounting roles and processes; forensic accounting techniques roles and responsibilities of corporate gatekeepers, including forensic accountants in creating a corporate culture of integrity and competency in preventing and discovering financial statement fraud. Also presented are challenges and opportunities in forensic accounting, and emerging issues in fraud investigation.

The existence and persistence of high profile alleged financial statement fraud (FSF) have negatively affected the safety and soundness of financial markets and investors confident in public financial information. Forensic accounting has advanced as an important and rewarding field of accounting to prevent, detect, and correct FSF. There has been significant demand for and interest in forensic accounting as well substantial growth in both investigation and litigation services. The first volume addresses the relevance and importance of forensic accounting and fraud examination as well as the framework and structure of forensic accounting practices. The author presents an introduction to forensic accounting and financial statement fraud examination and their relevance and importance to businesses, financial markets, economies and society. Also discussed is forensic accounting opportunities, skills, and services; forensic accounting profession; and professional responsibilities and codes of conduct for forensic accountants. Finally, forensic accounting best practices, education, and research are touched on.

Corporate governance has evolved as a central issue for public companies in the aftermath of the 2007-2009 global financial crisis. Corporate governance is a process (journey) of managing corporate affairs to create shareholder value and protect interests of other stakeholders. This book presents a road map for various functions and measures of corporate governance. The participants in the corporate governance process are the board of directors, executives, stakeholders, internal and external auditors, financial analysts, legal counsel, and regulators. This book is organized into four separate volumes; each volume can be utilized separately or in an integrated form. The first volume consists of five chapters that address the relevance and importance of corporate governance as well as the framework and structure of corporate governance. The second volume consists of four chapters that present the three prevailing corporate governance functions of oversight, management, and monitoring. The third volume consists of four chapters that address corporate governance functions performed by corporate gatekeepers, including policy makers, regulators, standard-setters, internal auditors, external auditors, legal counsel, and financial advisors. The fourth volume consists of five chapters that address the emerging issues in corporate governance, including governance for private companies and nonprofit organizations and convergence in global corporate governance.

Corporate governance has evolved as a central issue for public companies in the aftermath of the 2007-2009 global financial crisis. Corporate governance is a process (journey) of managing corporate affairs to create shareholder value and protect interests of other stakeholders. This book presents a road map for various functions and measures of corporate governance. The participants in the corporate governance process are the board of directors, executives, stakeholders, internal and external auditors, financial analysts, legal counsel, and regulators. This book is organized into four separate volumes; each volume can be utilized separately or in an integrated form. The first volume consists of five chapters that address the relevance and importance of corporate governance as well as the framework and structure of corporate governance. The second volume consists of four chapters that present the three prevailing corporate governance functions of oversight, management, and monitoring. The third volume consists of four chapters that address corporate governance functions performed by corporate gatekeepers, including policy makers, regulators, standard-setters, internal auditors, external auditors, legal counsel, and financial advisors. The fourth volume consists of five chapters that address the emerging issues in corporate governance, including governance for private companies and nonprofit organizations and convergence in global corporate governance.

The 2007-2009 global financial crises have eroded the public confidence in corporate governance and the financial reporting process. Policymakers, regulators and the business community have responded by taking proper initiatives to prevent further occurrences of financial crises. Restoring the public confidence requires a significant coordinated effort, regulatory measures and best practices by policymakers, regulators, business organizations and the accounting profession. One of the key provisions of these regulatory reforms, which seek to restore public confidence, is that a properly constituted and functioning audit committee can improve the quality of financial reporting by acting as an effective arbitrator in management and auditor disputes. Thus, this book addresses the audit committee attributes as an integral part of corporate governance to improve quality, reliability, and transparency of financial reports and credibility and effectiveness of the related audit functions. This book presents the roles, responsibilities, structure, composition, qualification, authority, resources and other attributes of the audit committee in accordance with the most recent regulatory requirements and best practices.

In today's business environment, global businesses are under close scrutiny and profound pressures from lawmakers, regulators, the investment community, and their diverse stakeholders to accept accountability and responsibilities for their corporate governance effectiveness. Corporate governance is a process (journey) of managing corporate affairs to create shareholder value and protect interests of other stakeholders. The landscape of corporate governance has significantly changed in recent years and there is a need for a good book presenting roles and responsibilities of corporate governance participants including directors, officers, stakeholders and corporate gatekeepers. Effective corporate governance should develop a right balance between the achievement of short-term targets and long-term sustainable performance. To effectively fulfill their fiduciary duties, corporate governance participants should lead from the front and by example and manage instability in hypercompetitive and global environments. This timely and relevant book describes the practice of good governance in the aftermath of recent global crisis with a keen focus on internal and external corporate governance mechanisms to address future global challenges.

The audit committee has gained considerable attention in the aftermath of 2007-2009 global financial crisis. The audit committee's role has evolved from a voluntary liaison between management and external auditors to the standing committee of the board of directors in overseeing all aspects of corporate governance, financial reporting, internal controls, risk assessment, and audit activities. This book addresses the determinants of audit committee oversight effectiveness, including their composition, independence, authority, resources, diligence, and activities. The book is organized into three separate volumes and each volume can be utilized separately or in an integrated form. The first volume consists of five chapters, which examine the relevance and fundamentals of the audit committees as well as the determinants of audit committee effectiveness. The second volume consists of nine chapters on financial, auditing, internal control, risk management, ethics and compliance, antifraud, and other oversight functions of the audit committee. The third volume consists of five chapters on the emerging issues of audit committees pertaining to evaluation, education, reporting, and accountability as well as audit committees of private companies, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations.

The audit committee has gained considerable attention in the aftermath of 2007-2009 global financial crisis. The audit committee's role has evolved from a voluntary liaison between management and external auditors to the standing committee of the board of directors in overseeing all aspects of corporate governance, financial reporting, internal controls, risk assessment, and audit activities. This book addresses the determinants of audit committee oversight effectiveness, including their composition, independence, authority, resources, diligence, and activities. The book is organized into three separate volumes and each volume can be utilized separately or in an integrated form. The first volume consists of five chapters, which examine the relevance and fundamentals of the audit committees as well as the determinants of audit committee effectiveness. The second volume consists of nine chapters on financial, auditing, internal control, risk management, ethics and compliance, antifraud, and other oversight functions of the audit committee. The third volume consists of five chapters on the emerging issues of audit committees pertaining to evaluation, education, reporting, and accountability as well as audit committees of private companies, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations.

The audit committee has gained considerable attention in the aftermath of 2007-2009 global financial crisis. The audit committee's role has evolved from a voluntary liaison between management and external auditors to the standing committee of the board of directors in overseeing all aspects of corporate governance, financial reporting, internal controls, risk assessment, and audit activities. This book addresses the determinants of audit committee oversight effectiveness, including their composition, independence, authority, resources, diligence, and activities. The book is organized into three separate volumes and each volume can be utilized separately or in an integrated form. The first volume consists of five chapters, which examine the relevance and fundamentals of the audit committees as well as the determinants of audit committee effectiveness. The second volume consists of nine chapters on financial, auditing, internal control, risk management, ethics and compliance, antifraud, and other oversight functions of the audit committee. The third volume consists of five chapters on the emerging issues of audit committees pertaining to evaluation, education, reporting, and accountability as well as audit committees of private companies, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations.