How can management accounting help companies balance social responsibility and financial performance?
Management accounting is the process of measuring, analyzing, and communicating information that helps managers make decisions and achieve organizational goals. Unlike financial accounting, which focuses on external reporting and compliance, management accounting is oriented towards internal users and strategic planning. One of the challenges that managers face today is how to balance social responsibility and financial performance, which are often seen as conflicting objectives. Social responsibility refers to the ethical and environmental impact of a company's actions on its stakeholders and society. Financial performance refers to the profitability and growth of a company's operations and investments. In this article, we will explore how management accounting can help companies balance social responsibility and financial performance by using four tools: cost-benefit analysis, balanced scorecard, sustainability reporting, and stakeholder engagement.