CA ANZ is proud to contribute to the Global Accounting Alliance’s (GAA) three-part series on connectivity in reporting, exploring why connectivity matters, how organisations can embed it in practice, and how professional accountants can help deliver it.

What is connectivity in reporting?

There is no single, globally agreed definition of connectivity in reporting. Broadly, it describes how information in financial statements, climate-related disclosures and broader sustainability reporting fits together, both within corporate reports and across the organisation that produces them.

Connectivity helps investors, lenders and other creditors understand how sustainability-related risks and opportunities affect an organisation’s financial performance, position and future prospects.

Why does connectivity matter?

Despite progress in sustainability reporting, gaps can remain between sustainability disclosures and the assumptions, judgements and recognised amounts in financial statements. These disconnects can make it difficult for users to understand the financial implications of sustainability-related matters.

Connected reporting aims to improve coherence across financial statements, sustainability disclosures and strategic commentary, helping organisations tell a consistent story about how they create value over time.

ASIC’s review of sustainability reports lodged for December 2025 year ends also highlights the importance of connectivity in practice. While ASIC observed improvement in the quality, quantity and consistency of climate-related financial information, it identified further opportunities to improve reporting, including explaining how sustainability report information connects with relevant disclosures in the financial report.

Achieving this requires more than aligning disclosures. Sustainability-related matters need to inform the decisions, processes and information that underpin both financial and sustainability reporting.

From understanding connectivity to putting it into practice

The GAA’s three-part series explores connectivity in reporting, from the underlying concepts to their application within organisations.

Publication 1: The Connected Reporting Landscape

The inaugural publication explains what connectivity in reporting means, why it matters and the role the accounting profession can play in advancing it. It highlights the reporting gaps that exist today and the need for greater coherence between financial and sustainability information.

Connectivity is becoming a hallmark of high-quality reporting. Stakeholders increasingly expect financial statements, climate-related disclosures and broader sustainability information to tell one coherent and consistent story about the organisation.

Publication 2: Embedding connectivity in practice

Building on the first paper, the second publication examines how organisations can achieve connectivity through integrated strategy, governance, risk management, decision-making, data, systems and controls.

Connectivity is created inside the organisation, not at the reporting stage. It explores how sustainability-related risks, opportunities, targets and costs can be incorporated into strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, capital allocation and performance management. Bringing financial and sustainability measures together in management information throughout the year can help organisations identify trade-offs, monitor performance and make better-informed decisions.

The publication also highlights the importance of consistent assumptions, clear data ownership, documented methodologies and effective controls. Boards and audit committees need an integrated view of strategy, risk, capital allocation, performance and reporting.

Publication 3: Putting connectivity into action

The final publication will provide a practical framework to help accounting professionals apply connected reporting within their organisations.

Coming soon… in December 2026

The role of the accounting profession

Professional accountants are uniquely positioned to lead on connectivity. Their established capabilities in measurement, estimation, documented judgements, reconciliations and internal controls can be extended to sustainability information. By working across finance, sustainability, risk and strategy functions, accountants can help organisations strengthen decision-making and build trust in corporate reporting.

Professional accountants can move beyond compliance to help organisations translate sustainability matters into financial implications, strengthen decision-making and build trust in corporate reporting.

Connectivity is not a separate sustainability exercise. It is an extension of established accounting discipline, supporting more consistent, decision-useful information for organisations and their stakeholders.