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SCACPA's Sustainability Task Force

Sustainability is a buzz word...

SCACPA Staff Contact

Erin Hardwick

ehardwick@scacpa.org

Katherine Swartz

kswartz@scacpa.org

...we hear more and more about especially in the media, but what is sustainability exactly and what does it mean for the accounting profession?

The "Triple Bottom Line"

Sometimes sustainability is called the “triple bottom line” -- a mix of environmental stewardship (planet), corporate social responsibility (people), economic performance (profit). It’s the intersection of the triple bottom line, not just going green.  The idea is to connect sustainability to strategy and long-term value creation in the company.

CPA Standpoint

From the profession standpoint, sustainability is about the CPA’s role in the expectations of businesses to be accountable for, to measure and to strategically align their operations in a world that is sensitive to what their customers, suppliers and other stakeholders expect from them. The accountancy profession has a huge role in the credibility of that information, the reliability of that information and the consistency of that information.

 

SCACPA's Standpoint

In South Carolina and across the country, the profession is stepping up its role and leadership in this area. A task force of has been formed to seek ways to advance the awareness and expertise of the accountancy profession in corporate sustainability. We want SCACPA members to become well-versed on issues surrounding corporate sustainability and SCACPA itself wants to “walk the talk” by establishing strategies for becoming a recognized sustainable organization.

Tell Us What You're Doing!

How is your firm becoming sustainable? kswartz@scacpa.org

 

Possible 2010 Committee Projects

Technical Standards and Advocacy
  • Research/follow developments in other service industries/ state & national CPA organizations and seek ways to implement appropriate educational programs and initiatives in South Carolina
  • Study climate change reporting standards and compose educational pieces on how this will affect our profession.
1000 Points of Green
  • Research and adopt a green compliance program for small businesses. Once adopted bring SCACPA office into compliance.
  • Consider a “Green Business of the Year” program or “Green CPA Firm of the Year”
Awareness
  • Utilize all of SCACPA’s communications vehicles to reach members with information and resources around the issue of sustainability.
  • Offer CPE on the topic of sustainability, sustainability reporting, etc.

Helpful Resources

5 iPad Apps for Leaner, Greener Small Businesses (openforum.com) Recently Added  
The Greening of GAAP (cfo.com) Recently Added   
Technologies That Save You Some 'Green'  (cfo.com) Recently Added   
How Green Is My Company?: Sustainability reporting tracks a triple bottom line (cfo.com) Recently Added   
Greener Buildings, 'Greener' Bottom Line (cfo.com) Recently Added   
Turning Point for Pollution Insurance (cfo.com) Recently Added   
International Federation of Accountants: Sustainability Framework   
Launching a CPA Firm’s Sustainability Services   
Sustainability Communications: Four Tips for Bringing Your Written Materials to Life   
FAQ's on Sustainability Reporting  
Article on Sustainability Reporting from the Journal of Accountancy  
Business Brief: The Fundamentals of Going Green   
A video presentation on sustainability from the AICPA’s Fall Council Meeting, October 2009    
A personal sustainability message from HRH Prince Charles of Wales launched by AICPA in October 2009
WalMart is in many ways leading the business sustainability effort  
Sustainability: A better brand of business? (Maryland Association of CPAs)
Accountants Find Their Role in Creating a Sustainable World (Rhode Island Society of CPAs)  
It's easy being green. Sustainability is the hard part. (CPA Success - A Maryland Association of CPAs E-Communication)
Deloitte: Best Practices for Going Green
Deloitte: Creating the “Wholly Sustainable Enterprise”

Task Force Roster

Member                               Position                                     Company
Richard E. Waycaster       Chair Elliott Davis, LLC
Robert Carpenter      Member PHT Services, Ltd.
Erin Hardwick     Staff Liaison  SCACPA
John Horton  Member  John C. Horton, CPA, PC
Chris McCraw  Member  Chris McCraw, CPA, PA
Stacy Smith Member South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Katherine Swartz Staff Liaison SCACPA
Robert Tilton Board Liason WebsterRogers, LLP
Georgette Timmons Member Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc.
Michael Upton Member Upton & Upton, CPA, PA