# What’s required of Accounting to build a better tomorrow Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-09-19 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: The Role of Accountants in Building a Sustainable Future Meta Description: Discover the crucial role accountants and auditors play in driving sustainable business practices for a more equitable, green, and inclusive future. URL: https://financedigest.com/whats-required-of-accounting-to-build-a-better-tomorrowhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1339953021-1736815195591-compressed.jpg) _![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/135-1736815195657-compressed.jpg)_ _By **Andy Oury,** Partner at Oury Clark_ When considering the future of the accounting profession, it’s important to look at it in the context of its wider societal obligation. The truth is, all businesses must think long-term and at a global scale about their role in building a better tomorrow. This is the only [way we can seriously drive sustainable business](https://www.financedigest.com/5-simple-ways-in-which-your-business-can-save-water.html "5 simple ways in which your business can save water") practices, creating a more equitable, green, and inclusive future for us all. But here a practical problem quickly presents itself. How do we tangibly measure where a company is right now in terms of equality, sustainability and inclusivity? Are all businesses using the same information to accurately measure their [business practices](https://www.financedigest.com/5-simple-ways-to-prevent-a-data-breach-from-putting-your-accountancy-practice-out-of-business.html "5 Simple ways to prevent a data breach from putting your accountancy practice out of business")? Why is this even important? Well, because if we don’t [know where we are now, then how can we know where we need](https://www.financedigest.com/5-key-things-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-your-first-employee.html "5 Key Things You Need to Know Before Hiring Your First Employee") to be in terms of sustainable business practices? In other words, how do we know what steps a company needs to take to [move towards](https://www.financedigest.com/investment-advice-moving-towards-a-new-model.html "Investment advice – moving towards a new model") a better future. The answer to this problem, believe it or not, actually falls to Accountants and Auditors. The regulation requiring companies to publicly report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues is already here, and the UK is actually [seeking to have one of the toughest stances](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-countries-seek-common-stance-on-climate-compensation-for-cop27.html "EU countries seek common stance on climate compensation for COP27") and highest standards on this in the world. In fact, in November 2020 the UK became the first [country in the world](https://www.financedigest.com/richest-countries-in-the-world.html "Richest countries in the world") to commit to making climate-risk disclosures fully mandatory across the economy. Indeed, the requirements are already here for the very large [companies listed with more than 500 employees](https://www.financedigest.com/why-more-companies-are-asking-new-employees-to-commence-employment-before-christmas.html "Why more companies are asking new employees to commence employment BEFORE Christmas.") or greater than £500 million turnover and more than 500 employees broadly, for accounting periods after the 6th April 2022. More specifically, the UK will become the first [country in the world](https://www.financedigest.com/cheapest-countries-to-live-in-the-world.html "Cheapest countries to live in the world") to make Climate-related Financial Disclosures, fully mandatory across the economy by 2025. Which, in effect, will take it beyond the current ‘comply or explain’ approach. It’s clear that the strides required are already being made to lay the groundwork for what’s to come. But there’s certainly still a huge task ahead of us to understand and [report on businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/title-gallium-68-market-research-methodology-business-opportunities-and-analysis-report-by-2031.html "Gallium-68 Market Research Methodology, Business Opportunities and Analysis Report by 2031"), and the only people who can possibly do this in a robust and professional manner are accountants and auditors. In a way, Auditing – often undervalued by clients and the public alike – has a chance to become useful and, dare I say sexy even, once more. A young generation who are extremely focused on sustainability may find it more interesting and indeed [important to appraise a company’s](https://www.financedigest.com/is-it-important-to-provide-media-coverage-for-your-company.html "Is it Important To Provide Media Coverage For Your Company?") ethical and sustainable footprint, rather than counting up its assets for the sake of investors. So this begs the question, what will be required of [Accountants and Auditors in order to build](https://www.financedigest.com/reckon-one-builds-momentum-with-strong-backing-from-accountants-joining-the-cloud-advisor-programme.html "Reckon One builds momentum with strong backing from accountants joining the Cloud Advisor Programme") a better tomorrow? The simple answer is, [deep and holistic expertise, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of how to balance a client’s need](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-deep-pockets-needed-to-persuade-glazers-to-sell-united.html "Soccer – Deep pockets needed to persuade Glazers to sell United") with that of the society and planet. If sustainability is something you are passionate about – and you want to help do something about it – becoming an auditor is actually a sensible move as these are the watchdogs and gatekeepers of the [future on these key](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-digital-key-market-unit-sales-to-witness-significant-growth-in-the-near-future.html "Automotive Digital Key Market Unit Sales to Witness Significant Growth in the Near Future") issues. At a practical level, to be a good [advisor you’ll likely have to do further tax](https://www.financedigest.com/new-face-digital-tax-revealed-cartoon-dexter-digital-tax-advisor-launches-tackle-lack-awareness-new-legislation.html "New Face Of Digital Tax Revealed: Cartoon ‘Dexter The Digital Tax Advisor’ Launches To Tackle Lack Of Awareness Of New Legislation") exams. The ACCA and ACA focus on accounting standards, auditing and a little tax, but you’ll only get sufficient tax knowledge by doing a CTA qualification. You’ll also need to be pretty knowledgeable on the basics of employment law and property law plus VAT, stamp duty, and other [indirect taxes](https://www.financedigest.com/goodbye-to-all-vat-eu-indirect-tax-after-brexit.html "GOODBYE TO ALL VAT? EU INDIRECT TAX AFTER BREXIT"). With this also comes the need for strong communication [skills and the ability](https://www.financedigest.com/lack-of-collaboration-and-skills-shortage-is-limiting-organisations-ability-to-meet-ifrs-9-requirements.html "Lack of collaboration and skills shortage is limiting organisations’ ability to meet IFRS 9 requirements") to influence. Being able to read a room and adapt your approach or character depending on the person is a [key skill to driving](https://www.financedigest.com/insights-on-the-flexible-packaging-global-market-to-2027-key-driving-factors-and-challenges.html "Insights on the Flexible Packaging Global Market to 2027 – Key Driving Factors and Challenges") change. Strong communication alongside deep expertise and holistic knowledge will mean that you can give advice that [creates long-term value](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-create-value-in-digital-transformations.html "How to create value in digital transformations") for stakeholders and that also better serves the needs of society and the planet. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---