Can it happen here (in the U.S)?
From London, comes this report: Chartered accountants may have the potential to be major players in the sustainability arena, according to a new report published last Wednesday by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. By assuring corporate performance in areas such as human rights and greenhouse gas emissions, accountants in practice can make businesses more accountable to investors and regulators. Through collecting, reviewing and interpreting information relating to environmental and social impacts, those in business can make sustainability benchmarking more reliable.
While entering this field of work presents many challenges for accountants, not least because of the paucity of suitable reporting criteria, the Institute of Chartered Accountants says the opportunities are considerable. ICAEW President Paul Druckman commented: "Chartered accountants have a long history of responding to new market opportunities and shifts in public expectations. I personally think the profession should take a lead on sustainability because it is in the public interest. But even from a hard-headed business perspective, this is an area of work into which accountants can and should diversify because governments and consumers will increasingly demand sustainable corporate behaviour."
But don't hold your beath. The Institute's own survey of the managing partners of 143 accountancy firms found only 10% had so far received any demand from clients for guidance on environmental or social regulations and taxes. However, this is the main area in which demand for practitioner services is expected to increase in the next three to five years, with 52% of respondents predicting at least some demand for advice.
Accountants may indeed "have the skills to help the planet." But does the planet really want to be saved by accountants? Just wondering.
