As a consequence of a number of high profile national and international corporate collapses, the international accounting community has firmly directed their attention to the need for robust ethical standards, sound and transparent corporate governance and an awareness of social, environmental and corporate accountabilities. In light of the increased expectation upon a universal professional code of conduct, Ethics, Governance and Accountability is a timely and valuable new text for educators and students of accounting. Students are presented with core ethical models necessary for ethical decision-making and introduced to a range of professional issues such as conflict of interests, professional independence, fraud and forensic accounting, corporate governance and social/corporate responsibility. This text addresses the increasing professional expectation that graduates possess a well-developed sense of ethical models and an awareness of their professional role and responsibilities.

Ethics and accountability have become important themes for modern government, as in most of the countries there is a severe crisis of legitimacy. Increasingly there is a feeling that performance management alone will not solve this crisis. Citizens also expect from politicians and public servants ethical responsible conduct. As to the ethics, however, there is a problem. Governance and new public management have raised new problems which cannot be solved by referring to the traditional bureaucratic ethics. Devolution and decentralisation processes have enhanced the responsibility of public servants. The increase of transparency and openness and the service orientation of public organisations have challenged the traditional values of discretion and equality before the rule. The growing interaction between the public and the private sector have raised the question of integrity. In light of these developments, it is important to update the ethical system, or reversibly, the traditional values of the public service can question some actual evolutions in government.

Increasingly the importance of corporate governance for economic development in developing economies like Tanzania is indisputable. This book explores the effectiveness of corporate governance in Tanzania and asks how it can be further developed and improved so as to make a difference in the contribution of state-owned enterprises to the economy. The book tries as fairly as possible to probe further into effective corporate governance, using cases of public entities, highlighting shortfalls in their governance and the consequent multiplier effects on socio-economic life. On the other hand, the book also aims to present examples of good governance in multi-layered ways, to show that there is room for creativity and innovation in applying principles of good corporate governance. Recognising that context is crucial, the book starts by assessing Tanzania’s socio-historical and economic context, and gauging various applicable metrics. Using historical and theoretical lenses, including the ethics-accountability relationship, the author aims to improve our understanding of corporate failures and consequent waste in Tanzania. Explaining failures in governance is far from straightforward, as by definition they operate beyond rules and regulations, systems and processes, yet the author draws from decades of local experience and expertise in order to assess the real situation on the ground. The Tanzania case will be of considerable interest to researchers looking at questions of corporate governance and economic development both within the country itself, and across Africa.

Colleges and universities play an important role in training competent and ethical future academic and business leaders. In today’s global business environment, with volatile worldwide capital markets and eroded investor confidence in corporate accountability, the demand for effective corporate governance and ethical conduct in ensuring reliable financial information is higher than before. This book is intended to develop an awareness and understanding of the main themes, perspectives, frameworks, concepts, and issues pertaining to corporate governance and business ethics from historical, global, institutional, commercial, best practices, and regulatory perspectives.

Within corporate governance the accountability of the board of directors is identified as a major issue by governments, international bodies, professional associations and academic literature. Boards are given significant power in companies, and as a consequence it is argued that they should be accountable for their actions. Drawing on political science, public administration, accounting, and ethics literature, this book examines the concept of accountability and its meaning in the corporate governance context. It examines the rationale for making boards accountable, and outlines the obstacles and drawbacks involved in providing for accountability. The book goes on to examine how current mechanisms for ensuring accountability are assessed in terms of fairness, justice, transparency, practicality, effectiveness and efficiency, before discussing the ways that accountability might be improved. Andrew Keay argues that enhanced accountability can provide better corporate governance, helping to reduce the frequency and severity of financial crises, and improve confidence in company practice. As an in depth study of a key element within the exercise of authority and management in corporate entities, this book will be of great use and interest to researchers and students of corporate governance, business and management, and corporate social responsibility.

Recent examples of massive corporate failures, such as Enron, have highlighted the need to reform corporate governance at an international level. The importance of effective corporate governance for corporate success, as well as for social welfare, cannot be overstated. Corporate Governance and Accountability has been written to provide readers with an up-to-date summary of both theory and practice in the area. Features: Provides a full discussion of corporate governance issues taking the broadest view of the corporate governance agenda. Draws on the extensive and original research carried out by the authors and demonstrates the close relationship between academic research and professional practice. Contains numerous contemporary illustrations and case studies, including a chapter dedicated to the collapse of Enron. Focuses on the relevance of corporate governance reform throughout the world. Highlights the importance of corporate social responsibility to companies and institutional investors from a corporate governance perspective. Includes an appendix containing the Combined Code on Corporate Governance issued by the Financial Reporting Council in July 2003. Corporate Governance and Accountability has been written as a core textbook for students taking undergraduate and MBA courses in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. A website containing answers to end of chapter questions for lecturers can be found at www.wileyeurope.com/go/solomon

The rise of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is creating a paradigm shift in contemporary corporate culture and organizational behaviour with shareholder and stakeholder activism on the rise as international banking crises and global corporate scandals dominate the headlines. Through accountability and transparency, fiduciary capitalism is being challenged to tie sustainability and corporate conscience to the bottom line. With the emergence of impact investing, social responsibility and ethics in corporate governance is becoming essential to long-term success in the new global marketplace. Corporations need to demonstrate that ethical, environmentally conscious business practices and profit are no longer mutually exclusive. Justine Simpson and John R. Taylor's Corporate Governance Ethics and CSR gives the reader a comprehensive guide to today's requirements for governance and reporting that organizations must adopt to successfully strike a balance between financial gain and socially responsible, green business practices that enhance the greater good. Employing current examples (Walmart, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup) and case studies in both the public and private sectors, Simpson and Taylor have compiled a thorough and fascinating roadmap, including historical context, for anyone seeking to understand the complex workings of the international corporate economy that affects us all. This book is perfect for students of, and those wishing to participate in, this revolutionary wave sweeping our planet.

The presence of sound corporate governance in a financial institution is important in maintaining the confidence of both the market and the public. The power that corporate governance holds over the success of some of the largest financial institutions in the world is not to be downplayed. This book methodically assesses the quality of corporate governance and mechanisms of accountability disclosures to various stakeholders. It is further intended to provide fresh insights into some specific corporate governance recommendations to help improve good governance in financial institutions, particularly in the United Kingdom and the EU but will also be applicable to other major economies. It explores what, when and how corporate governance has changed the financial institution functions and corporate executive behaviour by critically reviewing the pre- and post-financial crisis theoretical and empirical literature. Increasingly driven by the nature of complications, complexities and opacity in the operations of financial systems, corporate governance reporting plays an important role in the financial sector. It will provide insights into corporate governance disclosures over a long-term basis. This book should be a valuable asset to support the research of practitioners, students and all academics due to its stimulating and reflective insights into this fascinating topic.

The book makes a plea for systemic governance. It follows a practical approach including case studies and conceptual tools. Policy makers and managers need to work with rather than within theoretical and methodological frameworks. The closest we can get to truth is through compassionate dialogue that explores paradoxes and considers the rights and responsibilities of caretakers.

This volume explores corporate governance from three perspectives: a traditional economic, a philosophical, and an integrated business ethics perspective. Corporate governance has enjoyed a long tradition in the English-speaking world of management sciences. Following its traditional understanding it is defined as leadership and control of a firm with the aim of securing the long-term survival and viability of that firm. But recent business scandals and financial crises continue to provide ample cause for concern and have all fuelled interest in the ethical aspects. As a result, corporate governance has been criticized by many social groups. Economic sciences have failed to provide a clear definition of the corporate governance concept. Complexity increases if we embed the economic approach of corporate governance in a philosophical context. This book seeks to define the concept by examining its economic, philosophical and business ethics foundations.