Engaging with Stakeholders and Setting a Relevant Agenda

Russell Golden

Every one of us plays a role in promoting integrity in our capital markets. That's because, for all of its flaws, modern market capitalism remains the single most efficient generator of social wealth and prosperity. Nevertheless, it's a fragile system, because it depends fundamentally on trust. If the investors do not or cannot trust the numbers they see when analyzing a business, if company management has free rein to massage numbers based on narrow self-interest, the entire system collapses quickly. Accounting and auditing professionals are the guardians of this trust and the single most important line of defense to ensure our economy can continue to grow and create jobs and wealth for all.