Accounting conservatism and corporate social responsibility have received much attention in the recent literature. The current study draws upon Watts, who recognizes that one role of conservatism is to reduce the likelihood of excess wealth transfers to its stakeholder groups and Post et al., who assert that a key aspect of positive corporate social performance is the (equitable) distribution of corporate wealth. Accordingly, this study empirically investigates and finds a positive relation between conservatism and strong social performance.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test whether effective stakeholder management results in transparent financial reporting.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a linear model informed by stakeholder theorizing and established measures of stakeholder management, earnings quality, and earnings management.FindingsOrganizations exhibiting effective stakeholder management have higher earnings quality and are less likely to engage in discretionary earnings management.Research implicationsFuture research should carefully sort out the meaning of different measures of earnings quality, should clarify cross‐national institutional differences to reconcile contradictions in extant research, and should discover the underlying governance orientations that shape decision‐making processes and outcomes.Practical implicationsGoverning bodies must take into account how underlying organization cultures shape governance regimes, which may determine the transparency with which organization actors interact with various stakeholder groups.Originality/valueThis study establishes a positive link between effective stakeholder management and transparent financial reporting, suggesting that both may be artifacts of deeper underlying orientations toward accountability, transparency, and managerial discretion.

In January 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandated the use of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) financial statement reports. The current filing process with the SEC will undergo a major change under XBRL, but the new rules are taking effect over a three‐year phase‐in period. What lessons have we learned from the first wave of XBRL filers with the SEC? And what future planning should Phase 2 and Phase 3 companies undertake? © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Since the publication of climate change disclosure guidance by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2010, the number of 10‐K disclosures has seen more than a twofold increase. Climate change disclosures are disclosures of risk from severe weather events and pollution, although a company may also report opportunities arising from climate change. In general, companies reporting weather risks disclose the potential for property damage and/or temporary loss of business. Companies with significant greenhouse gas and other nuisance emissions disclose risks due to litigation and the cost of compliance with regulations imposed by governmental bodies. A few companies have disclosed opportunities arising from climate change including initiatives to develop plant‐based plastics and renewable energy sources. The article provides a portrait of compliance with an emerging area of corporate risk disclosure. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Robotic process automation is rapidly transforming the world of work for accounting and other information professionals. Data collection and entry that used to occupy much of the workday is being automated by programmable software robots or bots. Automation using bots should begin with processes that are stable, repetitive, and consume sufficient resources to generate a solid return on investment. As bots are implemented, a number of governance, risk, and compliance issues need to be considered including appropriate controls on bot access to sensitive records and transactions. The bot development process also requires controls so that only tested and authorized bots are deployed. For many companies, RPA is exactly what they have been looking for to drive higher efficiency in information processing.