Small businesses in this context are defined as legally constituted employer businesses with fewer than 100 employees, with a particular focus on those with few than 50 employees. In most countries those with fewer than 50 employees represent 95% of the business profile. They are largely ignored in plans by governments or institutions, or worse, given tools designed for big companies that are too costly to implement. Small business needs PRACTICAL tools and techniques. They need time-sensitive tools, for time IS money to them.
Research by the insurance industry has indicated that small businesses are at greater risk when an acute event occurs, with up to 40% of those affected not recovering from a climate-related event.
Professional accountants are the trusted advisors of small business. What role can they play in helping small business become more resilient to climate change? Should the accountant become climate science literate? Should they only focus on the business effects? Are there boundary conditions that they should refrain from crossing? If not an accountant, who should small business turn to for help?
IIan, I agree with you that the focus should be broader. Small business may not see the issue as being tightly focused on being climate ready. Small business owners have limited time, limited resources, and from their eyes the challenges they face are all encompassing. However, I have been given a mandate from an institution to inquire from their perspective. The research I am undertaking will hopefully bring this fact to the surface. I will be investigating the perspective of small business, professional accountants providing services to small business and professional accountants working in small business over the next few months.
I do see a role for professional accountants as trusted advisors to small business being called upon to help small business in the sustainability arena. While accountants are themselves risk adverse, sometimes the situation calls for change. While some of the literature casts the profession in the role of superhero, I completely disagree. I think their role is to evolve to be every day heroes and to help normalize sustainability.
I appreciate your response, and the links to the research. Are you an accountant?
You will have your hands full over the next few years. Thanks for your response. L
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