Challenges and Opportunities in Science and Business: The Impact of the Trends in Economics, Technology and Society on Accounting, Audit, and Analysis

This special issue is of utmost importance as it aims to deepen our understanding of audit, accounting, accountability and governance practices in light of the significant changes in economic, technological and societal trends. These changes are not only global but also specific to the Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics, making this issue particularly relevant and timely. 

Given the focus and the audience of the Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, we invite a diverse range of studies. These studies should contribute to ‘mainstream and critical’ debates, address pressing concerns, and explore how modern economic, technological and societal trends are transforming the fields of accounting, audit, accountability, governance, business analysis, and management. We particularly welcome studies that evaluate these trends' dual role as both a challenge and an opportunity for the future of science and business.

The main topics of the conference include, but are not limited to:

I. Trends of Development in Technologies and Methods in Accounting Science and Practice
•    The Evolution and Advancement of Accounting Science and Practices.
•    The Metamorphosis of Management Accounting Research: Encompassing Novel Methodologies and Future Possibilities.
•    The Transformation and Evolution of Accounting Studies in the Age of AI, Shaping the Future of the Profession.

II. The Modernization and Advancement of Audit Science and Practices
•    The Reinvention of Audit Methodologies and Practices Through the Adoption of New Technologies.
•    The Transformation of Internal Audit: Revolutionizing the Internal Control System with Innovative Approaches and Opening New Prospects.
•    The Transformation and Evolution of Audit Studies in the Age of AI, Redefining the Future Trajectory of the Profession.

III. Advancing Financial Analysis Sciences and Business Management in the Age of Technological Transformation
•    The Development of Traditional and the Formulation of New Approaches in Financial Analysis Science and Business Practices.
•    The Integration of New Technologies and Approaches in Financial Analysis and Management Processes.
•    The Transformation and Prospects of Business Performance Assessment Science and Practice.
•    Management accounting, control and digitalization in organizations.

IV. Role of audit, accounting, accountability management and governance structures in addressing the challenges of environmental issues and climate change.
•    The development of environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting
•    Corporate financial disclosure, country-level, effects, and firm-level characteristics in the journey to net zero.
•    Developments and challenges in the field of environmental accounting
•    Effectiveness of the emission reporting standards
•    How technology and assist the accounting profession in addressing the environmental and climate change issues
•    Interplay of gender and culture of boards facing environmental and climate change challenges in an accounting, audit, accountability and governance context
•    Accounting for disaster, climate change and climate justice in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics 
•    Accounting for extinction and biodiversity in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics
•    Social, health and environmental accounting (SEA), including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics.
•    Challenges faced in the field of Management Accounting in addressing Envoirnmental and climate change issues.

V. Accounting, Audit, Accountability and Governance in the Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics; Transition from Conventional Tech and Methods to Artificial Intelligence in Science and Business
•    The development of accounting and auditing regulations in the Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics. 
•    Accounting professionals' experiences and attitudes in the accounting profession in the Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics
•    The characteristics of Central and Eastern European including the Baltic boards of directors and their influence (if any) on corporate reporting and disclosure.
•    The role of governance structures (e.g., audit committee, nomination committee) on corporate disclosure and reporting.
•    Public sector accounting and auditing in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics.
•    Accounting, Audit, governance and accountability challenges faced by the 3rd sector organizations Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics
•    The extent of sustainability accounting, assurance, and reporting practices in the Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics context.
•    The employment of indigenous and local approaches for the development of accounting thought, practices, education, and research in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics.
•    Challenges faced in the field of Management Accounting in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics.
•    (Anti)Corruption and Taxation in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics 
•    Accounting for housing, homelessness, right to adequate housing and sustainable housing policies in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics.
•    Accounting for human rights and accountable institutions, including judicial accountability and accounting for social justice in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics
•    Accounting history in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics
•    Accounting practices in the informal sector, semi-formal, SMEs and state-owned enterprises in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics
•    Financial accounting and reporting, including the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Central and Eastern European Nations including the Baltics

Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal's online submission system: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jfra.
Submissions must adhere to the Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting's guidelines for formatting and citation: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/jfra.

Guest Editors 

• Prof. Dr Rasa Subačienė, Professor in Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Vilnius University
• Prof. Dr Jelena Stankevičienė, Professor in Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Vilnius University
• Dr Daiva Tamulevičienė, Associate Professor in Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Vilnius University
• Prof. Dr Ranadeva Jayasekera, Professor in Accounting & Finance, Trinity College; University of Dublin
• Prof. Dr Tam Nguyen, Professor of Accounting and Finance, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University

Important Dates

• Open date for submission: 16 September 2024
• Submission deadline: 31 March 2025
• Expected acceptance date: 30 November 2025
• Publication of the special issue: Expected early 2026