Readiness of Estonian Entrepreneurs for a Paradigm Shift in the Accounting Field

Abstract:

The article discusses future trends in accounting policy that will bring about a paradigm shift in the accounting field. So far, accounting has focused primarily on interpreting and explaining financial indicators and describing other trends in business activity only in the annual report. The accounting field is expanding, and in addition to customary reports, sustainable development reports will soon need to be submitted, which will detail the impacts on the environment, employees, and the systematic management of the entire organization.

First discusses in the article the interrelation between the environment and economic activity, as well as the nature of sustainability reporting arising from environmental policy, is discussed. The focus is on the necessity of sustainability reporting and the changes it entails. Then an overview is given of accounting changes that have taken place in Estonia, and the readiness of medium and large enterprises in Estonia to use sustainability reporting is examined. The article explains other changes that come with sustainability reporting and the need for data digitalization and use in real-time economy.

The purpose was to determine entrepreneurs' readiness for a paradigm shift in the accounting field. In order to achieve the objective, a quantitative research methodology was employed, data was collected through a questionnaire, and the Likert scale was used to measure the responses. A study conducted among medium and large enterprises found that they have adopted the principles of sustainable reporting and expect that if digitization and standardization are implemented at the state level and reporting moves automatically in real-time, their administrative burden will decrease. Large companies are ready for a paradigm shift in accounting, while medium-sized companies tend to take a wait-and-see approach.

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