Accounting

Accounting regulation and its implementation

In the area of accounting regulation, the section is active both in research projects and as a contributor to practice through involvement with standard setters and by publishing in practice-oriented outlets. The close interrelation with the standard-setting processes in Sweden, Europe and globally enables the research group to engage with recent topics related to standards formation and the implementation of standards in firms. Currently, the focus in this area includes intangible assets and audit regulation in private firms. One project investigates these perspectives in the context of digitalization. Another area focuses on sustainability reporting regulation and its implementation in organizational and reporting practices. This includes analyzing how and why firms systematically avoid disclosure using a combination of materiality considerations and the absence of auditing requirements. Additionally, we examine corporate governance mechanisms and their interrelation with corporate reporting practices in public Swedish companies.

Faculty involved in this area: Marita Blomkvist, Berit Hartmann, Kristina Jonäll, Jan Marton, Mari Paananen, Anna Karin Pettersson, Emmeli Runesson, Lana Sabelfeld, Niuosha Samani

Usefulness of accounting information to stock market investors

In these projects, we study the relationship between earnings and cash flows and their connection to stock prices and returns. New machine learnings methods are being developed and applied to address questions such as the relative usefulness of earnings versus cash flows and the relevance of recognizing intangible assets. Further, using generative AI, we examine firm disclosure on environmental impact and financial market participants’ demand for such information (in particular, adverse impact on biodiversity) as well as its capital market implications.

Faculty involved in this area: Kristina Jonäll, Jan Marton, Mari Paananen

Cost of environmental impact

As part of the project Mistra Biopath, which focuses on aligning the financial system more efficiently with environmental considerations, we examine total environmental costs (such as CO2 emissions, adverse impact on biodiversity, and environmental clean-up costs), with the aim of creating a measure to be used for assessment of environmental costs related to land-based oil and gas extraction. Further, we compare companies’ reported clean-up costs to independent estimations of this cost to examine cross-sectional systematic under/over estimations.

Faculty involved in this area: Mari Paananen

PhD projects in Financial accounting and sustainability reporting

• Malin Brus ”Accounting and digitalization”
• Malin Karlsson “Enhancing connectivity between financial and sustainability reporting”
• Imelda Taraj  “The influence of textual attributes, analyst heterogeneity, and environmental agendas in earnings conference calls”

The design and use of management accounting and control systems

This research stream focuses on the design and use of management accounting and control systems (MACS) for both operational and strategic purposes in private and public sector organizations. Key areas of investigation include the diffusion of MACS innovations, the historical evolution of MACS, the role of MACS and reimbursement models in healthcare, the development and application of costing systems, the role of MACS in complex inter-organizational relationships and supply chains, and the relationship between management accounting and strategy.

Faculty involved in this area: Henrik Agndal, Christian Ax, Gudrun Baldvinsdottir, Lars-Eric Bergevärn, Mikael Cäker, Johan Åkesson

Management accounting and digitalization

This research examines the role of management accounting and management accountants in digital transformation, with a particular focus on how such transformations drive innovation in business models and contribute to competitive advantage. We also investigate the application of digital technologies in the public sector to address critical sustainability challenges, particularly in budgetary control and climate investment planning. Additionally, our work explores governance and accountability in AI, the development of financial digital technologies, strategy implementation within digital ecosystems, and the regulatory impact on open banking and innovation.

Faculty involved in this area: Christian Ax, Viktor Elliott

Management accounting and control systems for sustainable business

This research area explores the role of management accounting and control systems (MACS) in developing and implementing strategies for economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Overall, the research highlights how MACS can contribute to addressing the complex challenges involved in transitioning toward a more sustainable future. Projects in this area include the design and use of MACS for implementing sustainability strategies, how CFOs and management accountants navigate sustainability issues, the development of circular business models and the managerial and accounting challenges they entail, the link between internal and external sustainability reporting, the impact of management control on accountability and stress, and the integration of green initiatives into MACS.

Faculty involved in this area: Peter Beusch, Viktor Elliot, Berit Hartmann, Elmira Parviziomran

 

PhD projects in Management accounting

• Jan-Olof Eriksson “A financial literacy perspective on management accounting and control systems in start-ups”

• Húni Jóhannesson ”Management accounting for sustainability”
• Rozita Lajevardi “Reimbursement models in the public healthcare system”
• Emma Olofsson “Institutional investors’ environmental commitments”
• Joakim Wahlberg “Management control as a dynamic capability – Changes in operational capabilities for innovation”

Effects of teaching methods in accounting courses in higher education

Studies examine how the systematic implementation of pedagogical methods, particularly variation theory, affects student understanding in introductory financial accounting courses. We are exploring how digital tools can be integrated into teaching to support learning and understanding, and to improve assessment and feedback processes. Pedagogical methods are also applied in the development of textbooks. The department is a leading publisher of financial and management accounting textbooks in Sweden.

Faculty involved in this area: Lars-Eric Bergevärn, Kristina Jonäll, Anna-Karin Pettersson, Johan Åkesson