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The Role of the Accounting and Control Professional in Monitoring and Controlling Sustainable Value

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  • Egbert Willekes

    (Faculty of Business Finance and Marketing, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2521 EN The Hague, The Netherlands
    Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 141, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Koos Wagensveld

    (Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 141, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    FEM Academy, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Ruitenberglaan 31, 6826 CC Arnhem, The Netherlands)

  • Jan Jonker

    (Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 141, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

This study explains the role of the accounting and control professional in monitoring and controlling sustainable value. The general conclusion of our research is that the accounting and control professional should play a leading role in this process. Our findings explain how this role can be designed, state the current obstacles to implementing this role successfully, and indicate the necessary steps to deal with these obstacles. We argue that the most critical obstacle to implementing this crucial role is the current mindset of the accounting and control professional, which is mainly focused on financial value. We discuss the factors impacting the needed mindset change, distinguishing between internal and external factors. Our study is based on 13 parallel focus group discussions with 55 senior finance, sustainability, and strategic professionals. Our research responds to calls in the literature for further research on the role of the finance professional in sustainability accounting and control. It also contributes to the current academic discussion about management accounting and control, focusing on sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Egbert Willekes & Koos Wagensveld & Jan Jonker, 2022. "The Role of the Accounting and Control Professional in Monitoring and Controlling Sustainable Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-23, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:15709-:d:984184
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru & Claudiu George Bocean & Maria Magdalena Criveanu & Adrian-Florin Budică-Iacob & Daniela Victoria Popescu, 2023. "Assessing the Contribution of Managerial Accounting in Sustainable Organizational Development in the Healthcare Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.

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