Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aims to explore sustainable auditing practices and perceptions within the accounting industry, focusing on organizational approaches, stakeholder engagement, and implications for future research and practice. A qualitative literature review was conducted to synthesize key findings from existing research. The research revealed a spectrum of sustainable auditing practices adopted by organizations, with large multinational corporations leading in adoption as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face challenges due to resource constraints and competing priorities. Tailored interventions such as capacity-building initiatives, collaborative partnerships, and simplified reporting frameworks are essential to facilitate sustainable auditing adoption among SMEs. Stakeholders' perceptions vary, with some viewing sustainable auditing positively for enhancing organizational performance and reputation, while others express skepticism about its effectiveness and relevance. Cultural factors influence stakeholders' attitudes, emphasizing the need for context-specific approaches to sustainable auditing. The study underscores the importance of stakeholder engagement, transparency, and capacity-building initiatives for organizations aiming to adopt sustainable auditing practices. Methodological challenges related to measuring and reporting sustainability performance must be addressed to enhance credibility and comparability. Future research should focus on understanding the mechanisms and outcomes of sustainable auditing and developing context-specific strategies to enhance its effectiveness.
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References
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- Bansal, P., & Clelland, I. (2004). Talking Trash: Legitimacy, Impression Management, and Unsystematic Risk in the Context of the Natural Environment. Academy of Management Journal, 47(1), 93-103. https://doi.org/10.2307/20159585
- Bebbington, J., et al. (2017). Challenges in Measuring and Reporting Sustainability Performance. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 60, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2017.05.001
- Brown, R., et al. (2022). The Effectiveness of Regulatory Frameworks in Promoting Sustainable Auditing Practices. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 13(6), 1045-1063. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-07-2021-0133
- Burritt, R., & Christ, K. (2016). Methodological Issues in Measuring and Reporting Sustainability Performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 3890-3901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.137
- Clarkson, P. M., et al. (2019). Revisiting the Relation between Environmental Performance and Environmental Disclosure: An Empirical Analysis. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 77, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2019.02.002
- Delmas, M. A., & Burbano, V. C. (2011). Greening the Supply Chain: When Is Customer Pressure Effective? Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, 20(3), 809-842. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9134.2011.00302.x
- Delmas, M. A., & Toffel, M. W. (2014). Stakeholders and Environmental Management Practices: An Institutional Framework. Business & Society, 53(1), 5-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650313510516
- Eccles, R. G., & Serafeim, G. (2013). The Impact of a Corporate Culture of Sustainability on Corporate Behavior and Performance. Harvard Business School Working Paper, (12-035), 1-55.
- Friede, G., et al. (2015). ESG and Financial Performance: Aggregated Evidence from More Than 2000 Empirical Studies. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 5(4), 210-233. https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2015.1118917
- Garcia, M., & Martinez, L. (2022). Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Auditing Adoption Among SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 60(4), 887-903. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980903211337
- Grewatsch, S., & Kleindienst, I. (2020). Organizational Barriers to Sustainable Auditing: A Multilevel Analysis. Journal of Business Ethics, 165(1), 177-196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04238-4
- Hahn, R., et al. (2015). The Impact of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Manufacturing Firms. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 19(5), 894-908. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12223
- Higgins, D., & Gul, F. A. (2016). Does Employee Trust in Management Matter for Organizational Performance? International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(3), 313-336. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.974253
- Holland, D., & Foo, J. (2018). The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Investment Recommendations: Analysts' Perceptions and Shifting Institutional Logics. Journal of Business Ethics, 151(1), 181-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3275-6
- Hong, H., et al. (2015). Corporate Governance and Equity Prices. Review of Financial Studies, 28(10), 2623-2668. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhv031
- Hoogendoorn, B., et al. (2019). The Influence of Cultural Factors on Sustainable Auditing Adoption. Journal of Business Research, 99, 395-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.11.044
- Jones, L., & Solomon, J. (2017). Embedding Sustainability into Organizational Culture: A Longitudinal Analysis of Corporate Practice. Journal of Business Ethics, 142(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3072-2
- Kolk, A., & Perego, P. (2014). Determinants of the Adoption of Sustainability Assurance Statements: An International Investigation. Business Strategy and the Environment, 23(1), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1757
- Lehman, G. (2008). Towards a New Accountability: Emancipatory Accounting and Sustainable Development. Accounting Forum. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2007.09.002
- Lozano, R. (2015). A Holistic Perspective on Corporate Sustainable Development by Leaders Research in Corporate Social Performance and Policy. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(1), 11-35. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1825
- Moon, J., et al. (2018). Corporate Social Responsibility: A Review of the Concept and Analysis of the Impact of CSR on Organizational Performance. Asian Journal of Business Ethics, 7(2), 175-197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13520-017-0076-x
- Orlitzky, M., et al. (2017). Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Ethical Leadership. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 24(1), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051816645280
- Rehbein, K., et al. (2016). Corporate Environmentalism: Antecedents and Influence of Industry Type. Journal of Business Research, 69(12), 5824-5830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.05.014
- Rimmel, G., & Winkler, R. (2021). Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Firm Value: Empirical Evidence from the European Union. Journal of Business Ethics, 172(3), 429-457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04350-5
- Rukprasoot, S. (2013). Sustainable Audit Success: The Role of Audit Governance. Journal of Management Development. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-07-2011-0082
- Russell, M. (2011). Accounting Practices and Economic Theory: An Examination of Sustainability. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513571111025706
- Sarkis, J., et al. (2010). Corporate Sustainability: The Missing Link between Knowledge Management, Environmental Performance, and Sustainability. Journal of Knowledge Management, 14(5), 753-772. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271011079737
- Schaltegger, S., & Burritt, R. (2018). Contemporary Environmental Accounting: Issues, Concepts and Practice. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315146301
- Schaltegger, S., & Wagner, M. (2020). Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Innovation: Categories and Interactions. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(5), 2201-2218. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2527
- Serafeim, G., & Grewatsch, S. (2020). The Role of the Corporation in Society: An Alternative View and Opportunities for Future Research. Journal of Management Studies, 57(2), 361-403. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12559
- Smith, P., et al. (2023). Technological Innovations in Sustainable Auditing: Opportunities and Challenges. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 43, 100529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accinf.2019.100529
- Susanty, A. (2015). Sustainable Auditor Reputation and Its Relationship with Audit Quality. Managerial Auditing Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-12-2013-0989
- Tiggemann, S. (2020). Environment and Sustainability in Auditing: Professional Attitudes and Audit Quality. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-09-2019-0331
- Villiers, C. (2015). Challenges in Integrating Sustainability into Accounting, Reporting, and Auditing Practice. Meditari Accountancy Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-02-2015-0010
- Wang, X., & Liu, Y. (2023). The Impact of Sustainable Auditing on Stakeholder Perceptions: Evidence from China. Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, 30(1-2), 167-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/16081625.2021.1938209
- Wijen, F., & Ansari, S. (2007). The Politics of Corporate Social Responsibility in Indonesia. Journal of Business Ethics, 74(4), 325-342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9245-5
References
Adams, C. A., et al. (2016). A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on Sustainable Auditing. Journal of Business Ethics, 137(2), 211-229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2550-6
Bansal, P., & Clelland, I. (2004). Talking Trash: Legitimacy, Impression Management, and Unsystematic Risk in the Context of the Natural Environment. Academy of Management Journal, 47(1), 93-103. https://doi.org/10.2307/20159585
Bebbington, J., et al. (2017). Challenges in Measuring and Reporting Sustainability Performance. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 60, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2017.05.001
Brown, R., et al. (2022). The Effectiveness of Regulatory Frameworks in Promoting Sustainable Auditing Practices. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 13(6), 1045-1063. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-07-2021-0133
Burritt, R., & Christ, K. (2016). Methodological Issues in Measuring and Reporting Sustainability Performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 3890-3901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.137
Clarkson, P. M., et al. (2019). Revisiting the Relation between Environmental Performance and Environmental Disclosure: An Empirical Analysis. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 77, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2019.02.002
Delmas, M. A., & Burbano, V. C. (2011). Greening the Supply Chain: When Is Customer Pressure Effective? Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, 20(3), 809-842. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9134.2011.00302.x
Delmas, M. A., & Toffel, M. W. (2014). Stakeholders and Environmental Management Practices: An Institutional Framework. Business & Society, 53(1), 5-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650313510516
Eccles, R. G., & Serafeim, G. (2013). The Impact of a Corporate Culture of Sustainability on Corporate Behavior and Performance. Harvard Business School Working Paper, (12-035), 1-55.
Friede, G., et al. (2015). ESG and Financial Performance: Aggregated Evidence from More Than 2000 Empirical Studies. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 5(4), 210-233. https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2015.1118917
Garcia, M., & Martinez, L. (2022). Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Auditing Adoption Among SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 60(4), 887-903. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980903211337
Grewatsch, S., & Kleindienst, I. (2020). Organizational Barriers to Sustainable Auditing: A Multilevel Analysis. Journal of Business Ethics, 165(1), 177-196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04238-4
Hahn, R., et al. (2015). The Impact of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Manufacturing Firms. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 19(5), 894-908. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12223
Higgins, D., & Gul, F. A. (2016). Does Employee Trust in Management Matter for Organizational Performance? International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(3), 313-336. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.974253
Holland, D., & Foo, J. (2018). The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Investment Recommendations: Analysts' Perceptions and Shifting Institutional Logics. Journal of Business Ethics, 151(1), 181-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3275-6
Hong, H., et al. (2015). Corporate Governance and Equity Prices. Review of Financial Studies, 28(10), 2623-2668. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhv031
Hoogendoorn, B., et al. (2019). The Influence of Cultural Factors on Sustainable Auditing Adoption. Journal of Business Research, 99, 395-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.11.044
Jones, L., & Solomon, J. (2017). Embedding Sustainability into Organizational Culture: A Longitudinal Analysis of Corporate Practice. Journal of Business Ethics, 142(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3072-2
Kolk, A., & Perego, P. (2014). Determinants of the Adoption of Sustainability Assurance Statements: An International Investigation. Business Strategy and the Environment, 23(1), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1757
Lehman, G. (2008). Towards a New Accountability: Emancipatory Accounting and Sustainable Development. Accounting Forum. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2007.09.002
Lozano, R. (2015). A Holistic Perspective on Corporate Sustainable Development by Leaders Research in Corporate Social Performance and Policy. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(1), 11-35. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1825
Moon, J., et al. (2018). Corporate Social Responsibility: A Review of the Concept and Analysis of the Impact of CSR on Organizational Performance. Asian Journal of Business Ethics, 7(2), 175-197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13520-017-0076-x
Orlitzky, M., et al. (2017). Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Ethical Leadership. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 24(1), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051816645280
Rehbein, K., et al. (2016). Corporate Environmentalism: Antecedents and Influence of Industry Type. Journal of Business Research, 69(12), 5824-5830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.05.014
Rimmel, G., & Winkler, R. (2021). Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Firm Value: Empirical Evidence from the European Union. Journal of Business Ethics, 172(3), 429-457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04350-5
Rukprasoot, S. (2013). Sustainable Audit Success: The Role of Audit Governance. Journal of Management Development. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-07-2011-0082
Russell, M. (2011). Accounting Practices and Economic Theory: An Examination of Sustainability. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513571111025706
Sarkis, J., et al. (2010). Corporate Sustainability: The Missing Link between Knowledge Management, Environmental Performance, and Sustainability. Journal of Knowledge Management, 14(5), 753-772. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271011079737
Schaltegger, S., & Burritt, R. (2018). Contemporary Environmental Accounting: Issues, Concepts and Practice. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315146301
Schaltegger, S., & Wagner, M. (2020). Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Innovation: Categories and Interactions. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(5), 2201-2218. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2527
Serafeim, G., & Grewatsch, S. (2020). The Role of the Corporation in Society: An Alternative View and Opportunities for Future Research. Journal of Management Studies, 57(2), 361-403. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12559
Smith, P., et al. (2023). Technological Innovations in Sustainable Auditing: Opportunities and Challenges. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 43, 100529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accinf.2019.100529
Susanty, A. (2015). Sustainable Auditor Reputation and Its Relationship with Audit Quality. Managerial Auditing Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-12-2013-0989
Tiggemann, S. (2020). Environment and Sustainability in Auditing: Professional Attitudes and Audit Quality. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-09-2019-0331
Villiers, C. (2015). Challenges in Integrating Sustainability into Accounting, Reporting, and Auditing Practice. Meditari Accountancy Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-02-2015-0010
Wang, X., & Liu, Y. (2023). The Impact of Sustainable Auditing on Stakeholder Perceptions: Evidence from China. Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, 30(1-2), 167-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/16081625.2021.1938209
Wijen, F., & Ansari, S. (2007). The Politics of Corporate Social Responsibility in Indonesia. Journal of Business Ethics, 74(4), 325-342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9245-5