Navigating Uncertainty in Sustainability Assurance: Challenges of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Romania and Austria
The implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires assurance on sustainability reports for numerous companies, has reached different implementation stages throughout the EU. This study investigated the key uncertainties and challenges arising from the ne...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Editura ASE
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Amfiteatru Economic |
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| Online Access: | https://www.amfiteatrueconomic.ro/temp/Article_3447.pdf |
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| author | Julia Baldauf Cristina Circa Alin-Constantin Dumitrescu Sabine Graschitz |
| author_facet | Julia Baldauf Cristina Circa Alin-Constantin Dumitrescu Sabine Graschitz |
| author_sort | Julia Baldauf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which
requires assurance on sustainability reports for numerous companies, has reached different
implementation stages throughout the EU. This study investigated the key uncertainties and
challenges arising from the new assurance obligations, focusing on auditors in Romania and
Austria. We explored auditors' perceptions of legal uncertainties, the integration of financial
and sustainability reporting, and the need for additional resources and competencies, by
means of a questionnaire-based survey. The results indicated that auditors that had already
provided sustainability assurance were better informed about CSRD implementation, with
significant differences in their perception of specific matters. Country-specific variations
were identified, to a small extent. Legal uncertainties and the need for technical expertise
were highlighted as major challenges. The study provides valuable insights into the current
state of sustainability assurance in the context of the CSRD, and contributes to the literature
by includin g perspectives from both Big4 and Non-Big4 audit firms.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-061ac2e5a0f9436c81cbf2810f536bb5 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1582-9146 2247-9104 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Editura ASE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Amfiteatru Economic |
| spelling | doaj-art-061ac2e5a0f9436c81cbf2810f536bb52025-08-03T17:36:26ZengEditura ASEAmfiteatru Economic1582-91462247-91042025-08-01277084986810.24818/EA/2025/70/849Navigating Uncertainty in Sustainability Assurance: Challenges of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Romania and AustriaJulia Baldauf0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8523-6129 Cristina Circa1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5518-9352 Alin-Constantin Dumitrescu 2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7886-6582Sabine Graschitz3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9501-4488University of Innsbruck, AustriaWest University of Timișoara, RomaniaWest University of Timișoara, RomaniaJohannes Kepler University Linz, AustriaThe implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires assurance on sustainability reports for numerous companies, has reached different implementation stages throughout the EU. This study investigated the key uncertainties and challenges arising from the new assurance obligations, focusing on auditors in Romania and Austria. We explored auditors' perceptions of legal uncertainties, the integration of financial and sustainability reporting, and the need for additional resources and competencies, by means of a questionnaire-based survey. The results indicated that auditors that had already provided sustainability assurance were better informed about CSRD implementation, with significant differences in their perception of specific matters. Country-specific variations were identified, to a small extent. Legal uncertainties and the need for technical expertise were highlighted as major challenges. The study provides valuable insights into the current state of sustainability assurance in the context of the CSRD, and contributes to the literature by includin g perspectives from both Big4 and Non-Big4 audit firms. https://www.amfiteatrueconomic.ro/temp/Article_3447.pdfsustainability assurancecsrd implementationcsrd challengessustainability assurance reportsustainability assurance harmonisation |
| spellingShingle | Julia Baldauf Cristina Circa Alin-Constantin Dumitrescu Sabine Graschitz Navigating Uncertainty in Sustainability Assurance: Challenges of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Romania and Austria Amfiteatru Economic sustainability assurance csrd implementation csrd challenges sustainability assurance report sustainability assurance harmonisation |
| title | Navigating Uncertainty in Sustainability Assurance: Challenges of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Romania and Austria |
| title_full | Navigating Uncertainty in Sustainability Assurance: Challenges of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Romania and Austria |
| title_fullStr | Navigating Uncertainty in Sustainability Assurance: Challenges of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Romania and Austria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Navigating Uncertainty in Sustainability Assurance: Challenges of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Romania and Austria |
| title_short | Navigating Uncertainty in Sustainability Assurance: Challenges of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Romania and Austria |
| title_sort | navigating uncertainty in sustainability assurance challenges of the corporate sustainability reporting directive in romania and austria |
| topic | sustainability assurance csrd implementation csrd challenges sustainability assurance report sustainability assurance harmonisation |
| url | https://www.amfiteatrueconomic.ro/temp/Article_3447.pdf |
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