Key Principles of Inclusive Accounting

Principles of Measurement of Social Contribution

Direct Measurement

An organisation identifies its social contribution, and establishes means to report on the contribution appropriate to its context. Some methods seek to monetise the social costs and benefits, to add to profits. Others report the benefit in terms that are commensurate with the benefit.

Prescriptive Measurement

An organisation reports on the outcomes of prescribed activities that have non-monetary benefits and costs that are understood, such as corruption and health.

Indirect Measurement

An organisation reports on its cultural alignment with the objectives of society. This provides an assessment of an organisation’s principles behind its decision-making and activities that pertain to its delivery of social wellbeing.

Key Principles of Inclusive Accounting

The accounting principles for social contract accounting are set out below. They draw on the principles for social contract accounting proposed in the Reporting 3.0 blueprints on integrated reporting.

• Purpose
  The purpose of social contract accounts is to reflect the contribution of an organisation’s activities to the sustainable human-centric objectives of society.

• Simplicity
  The purpose of social contract accounts is to reflect the contribution of an organisation’s activities to the sustainable human-centric objectives of society.

• Consistency
  The basis of social contract reports of organisations must be sufficiently consistent with each other to allow the organisation’s social contribution to be compared fairly with the contribution of other organisations. Its basis within an individual organisation must be sufficiently consistent over time to allow its contribution to be compared fairly over multiple accounting periods.

• Integrity
  Social contract accounts must be prepared with integrity, to provide a true and fair reflection of the organisation’s social contribution. Its methodology and assessment must be explicit and capable of being audited by independent experts.

• Scope
  Social contract accounting is applicable to all organisations, regardless of size. Different methods of reporting may be applicable to different size organisations, to ensure that the cost of preparing accounting information is commensurate with its value.