Blockchain e bilancio di esercizio: verso una convergenza di interessi "distribuita"?

Titolo Rivista MANAGEMENT CONTROL
Autori/Curatori Diego Valentinetti, Michele A. Rea
Anno di pubblicazione 2022 Fascicolo 2022/2
Lingua Italiano Numero pagine 26 P. 15-40 Dimensione file 326 KB
DOI 10.3280/MACO2022-002002
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

Qui sotto puoi vedere in anteprima la prima pagina di questo articolo.

Se questo articolo ti interessa, lo puoi acquistare (e scaricare in formato pdf) seguendo le facili indicazioni per acquistare il download credit. Acquista Download Credits per scaricare questo Articolo in formato PDF

Anteprima articolo

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA)associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche

The future of financial accounting seems to be highly transformed by the advent of the so-called disruptive technologies. Among these, the blockchain should guarantee transparency and faithfulness of information by the distributed accounting, i.e., a complete record of all past transactions on a network of peers. The main feature to consider is that every transaction is permanently recorded and no alterations whatsoever are allowed, unless every participant of the network approves each variation. This paper aims to push forward the academic debate on blockchain, with the debated aspects ranging from accounting issues through to financial reporting and audit. Hence, the authors conducted a systematic review of national and international publications to address how blockchain may impact both the preparation and the auditability of financial statements. Results suggest that the blockchain contribution is mainly narrowed to the enhancement of the clarity principle, whereas sever-al concerns affect the substantial issues of financial reporting (i.e., estimate judgments). On the other hand, a common acknowledgment on the enhancement of auditability processes of financial statements is recognized. The paper concludes with several insights on future research directions of blockchain in corporate reporting and auditing.

Parole chiave:Blockchain, Financial reporting, Auditing, Literature review

  1. Albizri A., Appelbaum D. (2021), Trust but verify: The oracle paradox of blockchain smart contracts, Journal of Information Systems, 35(2), pp. 1-16.
  2. ALSaqa Z.H., Hussein A.I., Mahmood S.M. (2019), The impact of blockchain on accounting information systems, Journal of Information Technology Management, 11(3), pp. 62-80.
  3. Alles M., Gray G.L. (2020), “The first mile problem”: deriving an endogenous demand for auditing in blockchain-based business processes, International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 38, 100465.
  4. Appelbaum D., Nehmer R.A. (2020), Auditing cloud-based blockchain accounting systems, Journal of Information Systems, 34(2), pp. 5-21.
  5. Austin A.A., Tyler Williams L. (2021), Evaluating company adoptions of blockchain technology: How do management and auditor communications affect nonprofessional investor judgments?, Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 40(5).
  6. Berdik D., Otoum S., Schmidt N., Porter D., Jararweh Y.A (2021), Survey on Blockchain for Information Systems Management and Security, Information Processing and Management, 58(1), 102397.
  7. Bhimani A., Willcocks L. (2014), Digitisation, ‘Big Data’ and the transformation of accounting information, Accounting and Business Research, 44(4), pp. 469-490.
  8. Bonsón E., Bednárová M. (2019), Blockchain and its implications for accounting and auditing, Meditari Accountancy Research, 27(5), pp. 725-740.
  9. Bonyuet D. (2020), Overview and impact of blockchain on auditing, International Journal of Digital Accounting Research, 20, pp. 31-43.
  10. Brennan N.M., Subramaniam N., Van Staden C.J. (2019), Corporate governance implications of disruptive technology: An overview, The British Accounting Review, 51(6).
  11. Bruni G. (1979), Le strutture di bilancio, Milano, Isedi.
  12. Cai C.W. (2021), Triple-entry accounting with blockchain: How far have we come?, Accounting & Finance, 61(1), pp. 71-93.
  13. Caldarelli A., Ferri L., Ginesti G., Spanò R. (2020), Understanding Blockchain Adoption in Italian Firms, in Agrifoglio R., Lamboglia R., Mancini D., Ricciardi F. (eds), Digital Business Transformation, Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation n. 38, Cham, Springer, pp. 121-135.
  14. Campra M., Secinaro S., Brescia V., Gonçalves Gois C.M.G. (2020), Where Is Current Research on Blockchain Technology in Public Sector? A Systematic Review, Rivista Italiana di Ragioneria e di Economia Aziendale, 2, pp. 183-199.
  15. Carlin T. (2019), Blockchain and the Journey Beyond Double Entry, Australian Accounting Review, 29(2), pp. 305-311.
  16. Cattaneo M.A. (1979), Il bilancio di esercizio delle imprese. Finalità e strutture, Milano, Etas Libri.
  17. Cho S., Vasarhelyi M.A., Zhang C. (2019), The forthcoming data ecosystem for business measurement and assurance, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 16(2), pp. 1-21.
  18. Confalonieri M. (1992), Forme, strutture e schemi di bilancio, Torino, UTET Libreria.
  19. Coronella S. (2007), La ragioneria in Italia nella seconda metà del XIX secolo, Milano, Giuffrè.
  20. Coyne J.G., McMickle P.L. (2017), Can blockchains serve an accounting purpose?, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 14(2), pp. 101-111.
  21. Dai J., He N., Yu H. (2019), Utilizing blockchain and smart contracts to enable audit 4.0: From the perspective of accountability audit of air pollution control in China, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 16(2), pp. 23-41.
  22. Dai J., Vasarhelyi M.A. (2017), Toward blockchain-based accounting and assurance, Journal of Information Systems, 31(3), pp. 5-21.
  23. De Andrés J., Lorca P. (2021), On the impact of smart contracts on auditing, International Journal of Digital Accounting Research, 21, pp. 155-181.
  24. Demirkan S., Demirkan I., McKee A. (2020), Blockchain technology in the future of business cyber security and accounting, Journal of Management Analytics, 7(2), pp. 189-208.
  25. Desplebin O., Lux G., Petit N. (2021), To Be or Not to Be: Blockchain and the Future of Accounting and Auditing, Accounting Perspectives.
  26. Dicuonzo G., Fusco A., Badia F., Dell’Atti V. (2020), Blockchain nel settore agro-alimentare. Analisi di una best practice, in Lombardi R., Chiucchi M.S., Mancini D. (a cura di), Smart technologies, digitalizzazione e capitale intellettuale. Sinergie e opportunità, Collana della Società Italiana dei Docenti di Ragioneria e di Economia Aziendale (SIDREA), Milano, FrancoAngeli, pp. 273-288.
  27. D’Onza G., Marchi L. (a cura di, 2019), La revisione del bilancio. Principi, metodi e procedure, Torino, Giappichelli.
  28. Dyball M.C., Seethamraju R. (2021), The impact of client use of blockchain technology on audit risk and audit approach – An exploratory study, International Journal of Auditing, 25(2), pp. 602-615.
  29. Esmaeilian B., Sarkis J., Lewis K., Behdad S. (2020), Blockchain for the future of sustainable supply chain management in Industry 4.0, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 163, 105064
  30. Ferrero G. (1991), I complementari principi della «chiarezza», della «verità» e della «correttezza» nella redazione del bilancio di esercizio, Milano, Giuffrè.
  31. Ferri L., Ginesti G., Spanò R. (2020), Blockchain e trasformazione delle professioni contabili: alcuni spunti di riflessione, in Lombardi R., Chiucchi M.S., Mancini D. (a cura di), Smart technologies, digitalizzazione e capitale intellettuale. Sinergie e opportunità, Collana della Società Italiana dei Docenti di Ragioneria e di Economia Aziendale (SIDREA), Milano, FrancoAngeli, pp. 176-192.
  32. Ferri L., Spanò R., Ginesti G., Theodosopoulos G. (2021), Ascertaining auditors’ intentions to use blockchain technology: evidence from the Big 4 accountancy firms in Italy, Meditari Accountancy Research, 29(5), pp. 1063-1087.
  33. Frizzo-Barker J., Chow-White P. A., Adams P.R., Mentanko J., Ha D., Green S. (2020), Blockchain as a disruptive technology for business: A systematic review, International Journal of Information Management, 51, 102029.
  34. Fuller S.H., Markelevich A. (2020), Should accountants care about blockchain?, The Journal of Corporate Accounting & Finance, 31(2), pp. 34-46.
  35. Fullana O., Ruiz J. (2021), Accounting information systems in the blockchain era, International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, 11(1), pp. 63-80.
  36. Gauthier M.P., Brender N. (2021), How do the current auditing standards fit the emergent use of blockchain?, Managerial Auditing Journal, 36(3), pp. 365-385.
  37. Gietzmann M., Grossetti F. (2021), Blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies: Where is the accounting?, Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 40(5).
  38. Gomaa A.A., Gomaa M.I., Stampone A. (2019), A transaction on the blockchain: An AIS perspective, intro case to explain transactions on the ERP and the role of the internal and external auditor, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 16(1), pp. 47-64.
  39. Hamilton M. (2020), Blockchain distributed ledger technology: An introduction and focus on smart contracts, Journal of Corporate Accounting & Finance, 31(2), pp. 7-12.
  40. Hayes A. (2019), The Socio-Technological Lives of Bitcoin, Theory, Culture and Society, 36(4), pp. 49-72.
  41. Karajovic M., Kim H.M., Laskowski M. (2019), Thinking Outside the Block: Projected Phases of Blockchain Integration in the Accounting Industry, Australian Accounting Review, 29(2), pp. 319-330.
  42. Inghirami I.E. (2020), Accounting Information Systems: The Scope of Blockchain Accounting, in Agrifoglio R., Lamboglia R., Mancini D., Ricciardi F. (eds), Digital Business Transformation, Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation n. 38, Cham, Springer, pp. 107-120.
  43. Kokina J., Mancha R., Pachamanova D. (2017), Blockchain: Emergent industry adoption and implications for accounting, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 14(2), pp. 91-100.
  44. Liu M., Wu K., Xu J.J. (2019), How Will Blockchain Technology Impact Auditing and Accounting: Permissionless versus Permissioned Blockchain, Current Issues in Auditing, 13(2), pp. A19-A29.
  45. Lineros J.V. (2021), IT Governance Considerations for Permissioned Blockchains, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 18(1), pp. 45-59.
  46. Lombardi R., Chiucchi S., Mancini D. (a cura di, 2020), Smart Technologies, Digitalizzazione e Capitale intellettuale: sinergie e opportunità, Collana della Società Italiana dei Docenti di Ragioneria e di Economia Aziendale (SIDREA), Milano, FrancoAngeli.
  47. Lombardi R., de Villiers C., Moscariello N., Pizzo M. (2021), The disruption of blockchain in auditing – a systematic literature review and an agenda for future research, in Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, in stampa.
  48. Lucianetti L.C. (1991), Sul sistema informativo aziendale. Caratteri, funzioni e logica del piano dei conti, in Fanni M. (a cura di), Studi in onore di Ubaldo De Dominicis, volume 3, Trieste, Lint, pp. 1395-1434.
  49. Lucianetti L.C. (2005), Bilanci di impresa e bilanci tipo, Torino, Giappichelli.
  50. Maffei M., Casciello R., Meucci F. (2021), Blockchain technology: uninvestigated issues emerging from an integrated view within accounting and auditing practices, in Journal of Organizational Change Management, 34(2), pp. 462-476.
  51. Marrone M., Hazelton J. (2019), The disruptive and transformative potential of new technologies for accounting, accountants and accountability: A review of current literature and call for further research, Meditari Accountancy Research, 27(5), pp. 677-694.
  52. Matacena A. (1993), Il bilancio di esercizio. Strutture formali, logiche sostanziali e principi generali, Bologna, CLUEB.
  53. Mazza G. (1978), Problemi di assiologia aziendale, Milano, Giuffrè.
  54. McCallig J., Robb A., Rohde F. (2019), Establishing the representational faithfulness of financial accounting information using multiparty security, network analysis and a blockchain, International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 33, pp. 47-58.
  55. Nakamoto S. (2009), Bitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system, -- http://www.bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf.
  56. O’Leary D.E. (2017), Configuring blockchain architectures for transaction information in blockchain consortiums: The case of accounting and supply chain systems, Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, 24(4), pp. 138-147.
  57. – (2018), Open Information Enterprise Transactions: Business Intelligence and Wash and Spoof Transactions in Blockchain and Social Commerce, Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, 25(3), pp. 148-158.
  58. – (2019), Some issues in blockchain for accounting and the supply chain, with an application of distributed databases to virtual organizations, Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, 26(3), pp. 137-149.
  59. Onida P. (1945), Il bilancio di esercizio nelle imprese, Milano, Giuffrè.
  60. Pimentel E., Boulianne E. (2020), Blockchain in Accounting Research and Practice: Current Trends and Future Opportunities, Accounting Perspectives, 19(4), pp. 325-361.
  61. Pimentel E., Boulianne E., Eskandari S., Clark J. (2021), Systemizing the challenges of auditing blockchain-based assets, Journal of Information Systems, 35(2), pp. 61-75.
  62. Ranalli F. (1984), Sulla capacità informativa delle strutture di bilancio, Padova, Cedam.
  63. Rocca L., Teodori C., Veneziani M. (2020), Blockchain, impatto sul sistema aziendale. Un caso operativo, in Lombardi R., Chiucchi M.S., Mancini D. (a cura di), Smart technologies, digitalizzazione e capitale intellettuale. Sinergie e opportunità, Collana della Società Italiana dei Docenti di Ragioneria e di Economia Aziendale (SIDREA), Milano, FrancoAngeli, pp. 193-202.
  64. Roszkowska P. (2021), Fintech in financial reporting and audit for fraud prevention and safeguarding equity investments, Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change, 17(2), pp. 164-196.
  65. Rowbottom N., Locke J., Troshani I. (2021), When the tail wags the dog? Digitalisation and corporate reporting, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 92, pp. 1-18.
  66. Rozario A.M., Thomas C. (2019), Reengineering the audit with blockchain and smart contracts, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 16(1), pp. 21-35.
  67. Rozario A.M., Vasarhelyi M.A. (2018), Auditing with smart contracts, International Journal of Digital Accounting Research, 18, pp. 1-27.
  68. Schmitz J., Leoni G. (2019), Accounting and Auditing at the Time of Blockchain Technology: A Research Agenda, Australian Accounting Review, 29(2), pp. 331-342.
  69. Santesso E., Ferrarese P. (1997), Le strutture formali di bilancio. Analisi comparata dei prospetti riclassificati e delle forme previste dalla nuove norme civilistiche, in AA.VV. (a cura di), Economia e Finanza Aziendale. Scritti in onore di Edoardo Ardemani, Milano, Giuffrè.
  70. Secinaro S., Calandra D., Biancone P. (2021a), Blockchain, trust, and trust accounting: can blockchain technology substitute trust created by intermediaries in trust accounting A theoretical examination, International Journal of Management Practice, 14(2), pp. 129-145.
  71. Secinaro S., Dal Mas F., Brescia V., Calandra D. (2021b), Blockchain in the accounting, auditing and accountability fields: a bibliometric and coding analysis, Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, in stampa.
  72. Sheldon M.D. (2019), A primer for information technology general control considerations on a private and permissioned blockchain audit, Current Issues in Auditing, 13(1), pp. A15-A29.
  73. – (2021a), Auditing the blockchain oracle problem, Journal of Information Systems, 35(1), pp. 121-133.
  74. – (2021b), Preparing auditors for the blockchain oracle problem, Current Issues in Auditing, 15(2), pp. 27-39.
  75. Smith S.S., Castonguay J.J. (2020), Blockchain and accounting governance: emerging issues and considerations for accounting and assurance professionals, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 17(1), pp. 119-131.
  76. Szabo N. (1994), “Smart Contracts”. -- https://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/rob/Courses/ InformationInSpeech/CDROM/Literature/LOTwinterschool2006/szabo.best.vwh.net/ smart.contracts.html.
  77. Szabo N. (1997), Formalizing and securing relationships on public networks, First Monday, 2(9).
  78. Tan B.S., Low K.Y. (2019), Blockchain as the Database Engine in the Accounting System, Australian Accounting Review, 29, pp. 312-318.
  79. Tiron-Tudor A., Deliu D., Farcane N., Dontu A. (2021), Managing change with and through blockchain in accountancy organizations: a systematic literature review, Journal of Organizational Change Management, 34(2), pp. 477-506.
  80. Vasarhelyi M.A. (2012), Financial accounting standards should not matter: It’s just a layer, Journal of Information Systems, 26(2), pp. 1-11.
  81. Wang Y., Kogan A. (2018), Designing confidentiality-preserving Blockchain-based transaction processing systems, International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 30, pp. 1-18.
  82. Weigand H., Blums I., de Kruijff J. (2020), Shared Ledger Accounting – Implementing the Economic Exchange pattern, Information Systems, 90, 101437.
  83. White B.S., King C.G., Holladay J. (2020), Blockchain security risk assessment and the auditor, The Journal of Corporate Accounting & Finance, 31(2), pp. 47-53.
  84. Yermack D. (2017), Corporate Governance and Blockchains, Review of Finance, 21(1), pp. 7-31.
  85. Zhang Y., Xiong F., Xie Y., Fan X., Gu H. (2020), The Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain on the Accounting Profession, IEEE Access, 8, pp. 110461-110477.
  86. Zhu Y., Zhao S. (2019), A Summary of the Application of Block Chain in Accounting and Finance System, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1314 (1), 012218.

  • Blockchain implications for the accounting realm: A critique of extant studies Rosanna Spanò, Maurizio Massaro, Adele Caldarelli, Carlo Bagnoli, in MANAGEMENT CONTROL 1/2023 pp.21
    DOI: 10.3280/MACO2023-001002
  • Management control in inter-firm relationships: Opportunities and challenges of blockchain technology adoption Giovanna Centorrino, Guido Noto, Daniela Rupo, in MANAGEMENT CONTROL 3/2022 pp.65
    DOI: 10.3280/MACO2022-003004

Diego Valentinetti, Michele A. Rea, Blockchain e bilancio di esercizio: verso una convergenza di interessi "distribuita"? in "MANAGEMENT CONTROL" 2/2022, pp 15-40, DOI: 10.3280/MACO2022-002002