The integrated reporting framework adoption and the changing role of the Vietnamese management accounting profession

This study aims to explore whether the adoption of the Integrated Reporting (IR) Framework can trigger the change in the role of management accountants in Vietnam IR-adopting organisations. In addition, it investigates the adoption approaches that have been currently used by Vietnam IR-adopting organisations. To fulfil the aim, this study compares the roles of management accountants in IR-adopting organisations and IR non-adopting organisations grounded by the Pragmatic Constructivism theoretical lens. The comparison enables the clarification of commonalities and differences in the roles, activities and connections of management accountants who work with the other functions in IR adopters and non-adopters. Besides, the comparison of roles of management accountants in both IR adopters and IR non-adopters enables the researcher to highlight the integration of factors that may have contributed to the value and logic of management accountants in IR-adopting organisations and seek or construct an explanation of why roles of management accountants are different or similar at IR adopting and non-adopting organisations. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and archival records were employed to generate an in-depth understanding of management accountants’ roles in both contexts of IR adopting and non-adopting organisations. Research findings suggest that IR adoption did not directly impact the different roles of management accountants but rather it has acted as a ‘catalyst’ or ‘incentive’ for this change. Findings from comparisons between different roles of management accountants in IR-adopting organisations, such as Country Level Advisor, Internal Business Partner and Non-Participatory Accountant, point out that IR is adopted as a ‘business circumstance’ rather than an advance in regulation and it is one of the factors that has resulted in changes in the role of the management accountant in IR-adopting organisations, as well as the multiple internal and external factors such as ‘the advances in technologies’, ‘culture intervention’ and the ‘educational and professional background of management accountants’. This thesis will shed the light on the intricate nature of the current work and management accountant practices regarding the adoption of the integrated reporting framework, thus contributing to the theories of management accountant roles and integrated reporting adoption. This study also delivers implications for a wide range of stakeholders, especially for management accounting professional bodies, accounting regulatory authorities and business managers in the IR-adopting organisations across the world. Management accounting bodies should be aware of whether the IR adoption can trigger any impact on management accountants to provide additional guidance to its accountant fellow. Business leaders in IR-adopting organisations can understand the IR-adoption approaches and procedures as well as the possible implications that IR adoption can deliver to their organisations.