Analyse and Critically Evaluate the Nature of Agent Accountability in Agency Relationships.

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Agency theory is a theory that explains the relationship between principals, such as a shareholders, and agents, such as a company’s executives. In this relationship the principal delegates or hires an agent to perform work. The theory attempts to deal with two specific problems: First, that the goals of the principal and agent are not in conflict (agency problem), and second, that the principal and agent reconcile different tolerances for risk. An agent (directors) is accountable to the principle (shareholder). In the context of agency, accountability means the agent is answerable under the contract to his principal and must account for the resources of his principal and the money he has gained working in his principal’s behalf. In agency theory accountability relates to: • The need to act in shareholders’ interests. The best way to encourage any person to act in the interest of an organization is to link that person’s achievement of his or her individual objectives to achievement of organizational objectives. This principle is valid also for encouraging directors to act in shareholders’ interest. • The need to provide true and fair information such as audited accounts and annual reports Shareholder’s don’t participate in the day to day management of the organization and therefore require their agents (directors) to provide them with true and fair information. • The need to operate within a defined legal structure. The directors are also accountable for any breaches of law. The directors are required to run the organization as defined by the country’s legal system. Agency theory can be divided into two based on the relationships of the principal with their agents: Shareholder-director relationship and Shareholder-auditor relationship The shareholder-director relationship is the one mostly under the spotlight but the relationship between

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