RIS ID
34665
Abstract
Purpose: To undertake a review of the assurance reports, prepared by audit firms and non-audit firms, on the CSR performance and management reporting disclosures of a specific sample of Equator Principles signatory banks.
Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on an initial examination of assurance reports of CSR reporting disclosures of a group of banks who are signatories of the Equator Principles. Rudimentary content analysis has been used to identify the differences in the structure of the titles, number of words and focus of these CSR reporting disclosures assurance reports.
Findings: The key finding from this initial review is that there is a degree of difference in the assurance reports, on CSR reporting disclosures, provided by audit firms and by non-audit firms. The main differences are the length of the reports, greater for non-audit firms, and the focus of the assurance reports. Non-audit firms’ assurance reports focus more on the organisations’ governance while audit firm assurance reports have a greater focus on audit qualities and processes.
Practical implications: This paper provides an opportunity to identify areas where assurance reports on CSR reporting disclosures could be improved.
Originality/value: This study contributes to the limited academic research undertaken on signatories of the Equator Principles, particularly in relation to the assurance reports of these organisations. This paper also presents a relatively simplistic approach, which can be easily replicated, to examine, and identify inconsistencies, in assurance reports on organisations’ CSR reporting disclosures.
Publication Details
Hui, F. C. & Bowrey, G. D. (2010). An examination of CSR assurance reports of equator principles signatories. 9th CSEAR Australasian Conference (pp. 1-13). Charles Sturt University, Albury Wodonga, Australia: Charles Sturt University.