Purpose The purpose of this article is to explore the role gender plays in the respect accorded to women leaders in the financial sector. Furthermore, the article seeks to identify ways in which disrespect is related to systemic legitimacy deficits experienced by women leaders in the sector. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative research design. Fieldwork gathered data through twenty in-depth semi-structured interviews with senior women leaders in a range of financial sector organisations. Fifteen interviews were conducted with UK leaders with remaining interviews conducted with leaders in the United States, Belgium, Brazil and The Channel Islands. Findings In a sector historically constructed as masculine terrain, findings show that women leaders in finance experience gender based (dis)respect, both overt and systemic, in ways that are related to conditional and contingent legitimacy. Women in senior leader positions are often positioned as “space invaders” to the sector. Strategic interrogation of respect and legitimacy cultures can be initiated through a systems approach. Originality/value This study frames the under-researched issue of gendered respect in leadership as a consequential construct, substantively linked to leadership legitimacy. It suggests that the notion of respect can be leveraged and embedded in the systems, structures and shared values of an organisation and can become a valuable vehicle to advance inclusion.
Purpose This paper investigates how religiosity affects environmental, social and governance (ESG) decoupling. It also examines how enforcement quality moderates this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Using a dataset of 34,330 firm-year observations from 29 countries (2005–2022), the study applies multivariate regression models. It includes robustness checks using alternative measures, sample splits and instrumental variable (IV-2SLS) estimation to address endogeneity concerns. Findings We find that religiosity is significantly and negatively associated with ESG decoupling. This association is stronger among firms in countries with low enforcement quality, suggesting a substitution effect between formal (enforcement) and informal (religiosity) institutions. The association is also more pronounced for firms engaged in greenwashing rather than brownwashing and for those operating in controversial industries. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the relationship between religiosity and enforcement shifted from a substitution effect to a complementary effect, thereby reducing ESG decoupling compared to the pre-pandemic period. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that efforts to understand and address ESG decoupling may benefit from considering the joint roles of formal institutional conditions, such as enforcement quality, and informal societal influences, such as religiosity. Practical implications Policymakers and regulators should account for the joint roles of enforcement and religiosity when designing measures to reduce ESG decoupling. Enhancing enforcement may be more effective in low-religiosity countries, while engaging religious institutions may be more beneficial in more religious societies. Social implications The study highlights that persistent gaps between ESG disclosure and ESG performance may weaken the credibility of sustainability reporting and limit the extent to which firms’ ESG commitments translate into meaningful environmental and social outcomes. Originality/value This study examines the joint and moderating effects of religiosity and enforcement on ESG decoupling. It also provides timely evidence from the crisis period, highlighting institutional interplay during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Purpose This article investigates the evolving sustainability reporting landscape in the European Union (EU) following the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). It explores the degree of interoperability – that is, the effective alignment between the ESRS and major international frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the International Sustainability Reporting Standards (IFRS) – and evaluates how companies respond in practice. Design/methodology/approach The study conducts a comparative analysis of energy companies operating within the EU. The empirical analysis is supported by the construction of an interoperability grid and the subsequent measurement of interoperability indicators. Findings The analysis reveals strong alignment in disclosures between companies reporting under the ESRS and those reporting under the GRI, supporting the practical effectiveness of interoperability initiatives. In contrast, IFRS-aligned firms exhibit significantly lower and more heterogeneous disclosure levels, particularly in governance, highlighting limitations of investor-centric reporting frameworks in achieving comprehensive sustainability transparency. Research limitations/implications The findings are based on a cross-sectional sample from a single EU sector, limiting their generalisability. Nevertheless, the results inform policymakers and firms by evidencing practical interoperability between the ESRS and GRI while highlighting gaps in IFRS-aligned disclosures. Practical implications By empirically examining interoperability in practice, this study provides evidence-based insights for policymakers, standard setters, and firms, supporting alignment strategies and informing the implementation of sustainability reporting frameworks within the evolving EU regulatory landscape. Social implications Achieving a truly harmonised reporting environment across the EU would strengthen stakeholder trust, enhance the comparability of disclosures, and support effective and sustainable economic development. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence on interoperability across the ESRS, GRI, and IFRS frameworks, offering one of the first disclosure-based assessments of cross-framework alignment in the early implementation phase of the CSRD.
Purpose This study examines the moderating role of Environmentally-Specific Servant Leadership (ESSL) on factors influencing green behaviour among internal stakeholders in the finance sector. The factors considered are attitude, concern, and knowledge about the environment, and perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR). Design/methodology/approach Two independent studies, involving students (n = 256) and employees (n = 233) in the financial sector, were conducted. Structural Equation Modelling was employed to test the hypothesised relationships, and a multi-group analysis was performed to compare results across the two samples. Findings The antecedents had a significant positive impact on green behaviour in both groups. ESSL was found to positively moderate the relationship between some of the antecedents and green behaviour, specifically, environmental attitude for students and perceived CSR for employees, amplifying their effect on green behaviour. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to two specific stakeholder groups within the finance sector, which may limit the generalisability of the findings to other sectors or stakeholder categories. Future research could extend this model to other industries and stakeholder groups to test the robustness of the moderating role of ESSL. Practical implications The findings have implications for policy formulation, curriculum development, and human resource strategies aimed at strengthening pro-environmental conduct among employees and future finance professionals. Originality/value The study extends the concept of respect in the finance sector beyond ethical conduct and fiduciary responsibility to environmental stewardship. By comparing the moderating effect of ESSL across two distinct internal stakeholder groups, it offers insight into how leadership shapes pro-environmental behaviour.
Purpose This study aims to examine the conceptual fragmentation within the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) Conceptual Framework (CF) by investigating the interrelationships among three fundamental accounting choices: accounting approaches (balance sheet vs. income statement), capital maintenance concepts (financial vs. physical), and measurement bases (historical cost vs. current value). It aims to develop a comprehensive meta-framework that integrates these elements through broader foundational perspectives. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a normative methodology, the study synthesizes existing theoretical debates and formalizes alternative accounting positions. Through logical analysis, it identifies consistent configurations among the three accounting choices and organizes them into three overarching foundational perspectives: market, entrepreneurial, and institutional. Findings The research demonstrates that coherent links exist among accounting approaches, capital maintenance, and measurement bases. These are structured into three foundational perspectives, each representing a distinct accounting philosophy aligned with different stakeholder needs and epistemological views. The study proposes a meta-framework that integrates these perspectives to enhance conceptual coherence and regulatory flexibility. Research limitations/implications The study is theoretical and lacks empirical validation. Further research is needed to test the applicability of the meta-framework across diverse institutional and cultural contexts and to empirically assess the role of the institutional perspective in CFs. Practical implications The framework helps standard setters, policymakers, and managers tailor accounting practices and regulations to varied stakeholder interests and organizational contexts, improving transparency and relevance in financial reporting. Originality/value The study introduces a novel meta-framework that reinterprets foundational accounting choices through integrated perspectives, offering a more pluralistic and inclusive vision for CFs.
