Symposia Programme

Video Presentations

SYMPOSIUM 1

EFRAG: BETTER INFORMATION ON INTANGIBLES

Wednesday 29 May – 14:15-15:45 – Auditorium (Room 1)
 

In an economy where, intangibles may have an increasingly important role in the companies’ business model, EFRAG’s research project on Better Information on Intangibles investigates possible ways to improve the information that companies report on these and how they can contribute to create value and future cash flows. Today’s financial statements (including notes) may not provide a full picture, as many intangibles are often not even referenced. Can traditional financial reporting provide information that is at the same time meaningful and reliable, when the earning potential of these resources is so wide, and their value is so uncertain? Or is the key the use of extra financial information as part of wider corporate reporting? Some organisations active in the corporate reporting or extra financial information area have already taken steps in this area.

EFRAG has established in the second half of 2018 the European Corporate Reporting Lab (European Lab) aiming at stimulating innovations in the field of corporate reporting in Europe by identifying and sharing good practice. It could be envisaged that the European Lab could play a role in the intangibles debate.

Chair/moderator: Thorsten Sellhorn (President-elect European Accounting Association, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich)

Introductions: Saskia Slomp (EFRAG CEO), Filippo Poli (EFRAG Research Director)

This symposium is sponsored by EFRAG.

SYMPOSIUM 2

ACCOUNTING AND POLITICS

Wednesday 29 May – 16:15-17:45 – Auditorium (Room 1)

This symposium is linked to the outstanding call for papers related to the special issue on “accounting and politics” to be published in Accounting in Europe.

From the viewpoint of the economic and social consequences of accounting, it is hardly possible to argue that the accounting standard setting process is exclusively technical. On the contrary, it is now accepted widely that accounting decisions are political, they benefit some stakeholders but might penalize others. The IASB is focused on satisfying investors’ needs. To what extent should other stakeholders be considered? Is that a responsibility of the IASB? Or should that be decided at the political level? Is the current endorsement process of the EU and its adherence to the public good ensuring the interests of all stakeholders in financial reporting? Regarding the legitimacy of a private standard-setter, the IASB has added layers to its working system to be accountable to high level groups, and has an open due process. But, how does that process work in practice? What determines the success of such an international standard setter? What can other institutions learn from the IASB about the factors that contributed to its leading position as a global standard setter? Does the world need international accounting standards in 2019? Does the digital era require a different accounting standard setting process?

In this symposium the following related topics to the overall theme of the special issue will be covered:

• The ‘geopolitics’ of accounting standard setting. Are there consequences for the IASB/IFRS Standards and in a wider context for the EU’s IFRS Policy?
• Is the European public good a useful concept in the EU endorsement process?
• Politics has gained importance and politicians are more involved and interested in corporate reporting:  what is the trend over time?
• The interaction between financial reporting (IASB) and corporate reporting (e.g. GRI, IIRC, SDG, …). What are the political aspects of this complex interplay between these areas?
• What are the critical success factors of the IASB? What are its achievements?
• Do we still need international standards in the current (digital) environment?

Chair: Ann Jorissen, Professor, Universiteit Antwerpen  & EAA External Relations Committee

SYMPOSIUM 3

IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS

Thursday 30 May – 09.00-10.30 – Auditorium (Room 1)
 

In academia as well as in professional practice, increased attention is being paid to the impact of technology on management accounting in organizations. For example, Frey and Osborne (2017) suggest that (management) accounting is one of a number of professions that is most prone to further automation and robotisation. In addition, several journals like Accounting Horizons (September 2015) and the Journal of Accounting Education (March 2017) have published special issues dedicated entirely to the impact of data analytics and big data on accounting. However, it remains unclear how technological developments will affect specific activities of management accountants, how efficient and effective these technological developments in management accounting are, and how these technological developments (should) affect education in management accounting. During the IMA-sponsored discussion at the EAA annual conference, several researchers will provide a short introduction on the aforementioned topics.

Chair: Alain Mulder (Director European Operations IMA®)

Panellists: prof. dr. Cristiano Busco (Roehampton University, UK/LUISS Guido Carli, Italy), Dr. Sebastian Firk (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany), prof. dr. Utz Schaeffer (WHU, Germany), prof. dr. Frank Verbeeten (University of Amsterdam Business School, Netherlands).

This symposium is sponsored by the Institute of Management Accountants.

SYMPOSIUM 4

MACHINE LEARNING: MORE SCIENCE THAN FICTION

Thursday 30 May – 11:00-12:30 – Auditorium (Room 1)

Artificial intelligence (AI) has widely been talked about as taking over the world. But what do we actually mean when we say AI? And how relevant are these developments for accountancy?

It’s time to separate the hype from the reality.

Join us for an exciting discussion where we tackle these questions and share perspectives from ACCA’s recent report on machine learning. This session will give you an insight into what machine learning is, how it is used in accountancy, what the ethical dimensions are and the implications for the skills of professional accountants.

Chair: Narayanan Vaidyanathan, Head of Business Insights, ACCA

Panellists: Kyriakos Iordanou (General Manager, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus), Christos Nicolaides (University of Cyprus), Marianne Viinikainen (Saimaa University of Applied Sciences), George Tziortzis (Board Member Head of Management, KPMG)

SYMPOSIUM 5

EDITORS’ PANEL: NEW TRENDS AND DIRECTIONS IN ACCOUNTING RESEARCH

Thursday 30 May – 14:00-15:30 – Auditorium (Room 1)

The past few years have witnessed an unprecedented growth in the production of data, new technologies and corporate innovation.  All these while accounting standards are still evolving and capital markets regulation continually changing.  How do all these changes in the economic, regulatory, corporate and information environment affect the future of accounting research?  What research opportunities but also challenges are created by these changes? And how can accounting research adapt to this rapidly changing environment to produce new avenues for research that can be of greater relevance to both academics, practitioners, regulators and corporations?

While answering this above fundamental questions, panelists will also address issues related to the following questions:

• Do accounting researchers need to become more creative?
• How promotion and tenure rules affect innovation in accounting research?
• How can researchers better utilize the changing environment to address timely and relevant research questions?
• Can accounting research reach beyond its traditional accounting boundaries?
• Is interdisciplinary research a better approach to tackle the new environment?
• What research skills are required by new researchers in order to more effectively utilize the opportunities offered in this new environment?

Chair:  Grace Pownall, Emory University

Panellists:

SYMPOSIUM 6

AUDIT ANALYTICS: THE EU AUDIT LEGISLATION

Thursday 30 May – 16:00-17:30 –<span style=”font-fa