Social Accountability (SA)

Social accountability refers to the expectation that business organizations manage, assess, and report on their activities and performance in fulfilling the economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities expected by stakeholders. While corporations have long been held responsible to investors and stockholders, many firms, government agencies, consumers, media outlets, and other stakeholders advocate an expanded view of this accountability, which includes reporting on the impact and interaction of business with broader society. Social accountability is part of a movement known as SEAAR, the acronym for social and ethical accounting, auditing, and reporting.