The development of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) technologies stimulates diametrically opposite points of view about the prospects of traditional institutions in the digital economy: from their complete disappearance to a cardinal transformation. This matter also applies to the field of accounting and auditing. The purpose of the study is not only to identify trends in the transformation of the audit methodology but also in an accountant/auditor profession itself by using blockchain and DLT. The conduct of this research is based on the use of the following methods: analysis and synthesis, comparison, systemic and logical approach, analogies and grouping. The paper contains an overview of the implementation practice of blockchain technology by the Big Four audit companies, as well as the composition of the main developers and the software products they offer based on the blockchain technology and DLT used in audit activities. There have been identified the key trends in the development of an accountant/auditor professions in connection with the use of blockchain technology and DLT. The conclusion is made about the need for a significant transformation of the audit methodology, as well as the profession of an accountant/auditor in connection with the use of blockchain and DLT, but it is not about replacing the audit institution with these technologies. The authors have formulated proposals and defined the most significant innovations of the classical methodology for conducting an audit of the business processes effectiveness based on the use of blockchain technology and DLT.

The intensive development of digital technologies, their penetration into business and everyday life calls for the assessment of theoretical validity and practical feasibility of including the concepts of “digital rights” in civil law legislation. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology for identifying digital rights as an object of accounting and control. The article analyzes the definitions of the concept “digital rights”, “obligation and other rights”, evaluates the forms of digital rights implementation and restrictions on the disposal of digital rights, proposed in Law No. 34-FZ. The authors consider the applied value of the phenomenon of digital rights not only in civil paper work, but also in accounting and control processes. The concepts developed by accounting methodologists to post transactions with digital rights in ledgers are revealed. On the basis of generalization of the initial technological foundations of asset tokenization in business projects, a conclusion is made that a shared problem in digital rights management involves the choice of digital algorithms, financial platforms for their issuance and circulation. The analysis of the Russian and international rules for the identification of digital financial assets (DFA) (tokens) as an object of the accounting policy of companies and their use in preparation of reports makes it possible to state that DFA can be considered a financial instrument with all subsequent accounting and control and analytical operations only when a specific right, for example, participation in the replacement of real shares, is exercised. It is recommended to make some amendments related first, to the accounting and reporting methodology to facilitate the identification and assessment of digital rights holders (investment tokens) that replace securities, and, second, to account 58 “Financial Investments”, namely to open an additional subaccount to account for securities which are replaced by digital assets or digital currency.

The article analyzes the social responsibility of business and the quality of its reflection in corporate reporting. The purpose of the study is to develop methodological solutions for conducting an up-to-date study of the social responsibility of Russian large businesses, based on the information contained in their financial and non-financial statements. The study uses the methods of abduction, meaningful analysis of the current state of the social sphere; logical analysis of research made by scientists and interested organizations in the field of social sphere and business social responsibility, which were assessed on the basis of the social reporting study; logical content analysis of financial and non-financial reporting standards in terms of requirements for disclosure of social aspects; expert analysis of social reporting of Russian companies in various industries, linguistic analysis to analyze the use of certain terms and concepts in financial and non-financial reporting of companies. The information base of the study includes the International Financial Reporting Standards, Sustainable Development Reporting Standards, Basic Performance Indicators of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP); financial and non-financial reporting of companies in the material production industries. As a result of the study, the methodological solutions for the analysis and assessment of the Russian economic entities` social responsibility were substantiated and proposed. On the basis of the analysis of trends in the social sphere along with the identified opportunities and threats for its further development caused by the evolution of digitalization, economy and ecology, a block of the most important problems was formed. Participation in the solution of such problems characterizes the social responsibility of business. The paper proposes certain stages of researching the social responsibility of business. With this article, the authors open a series of publications that will comprehensively and systematically study the problems of accounting, analysis and assessment of the economic entities` social responsibility in a rapidly changing environment and emerging new challenges for society and business, including the development of a research methodology, assessment of the composition, completeness and quality of the information base, taking into account industry-specific features of the studied objects, and analytical methods and procedures.

The paper examines the impact of risk management practices on improving the competitiveness and financial stability of corporations. The purpose of the study is to develop recommendations for the formation in accounting and disclosure in the accounting (financial) statements of information about the risks inherent in the activities of corporations. The need for the above is noted by the document of the Ministry of Finance of Russia “Information No. PZ‑9/2012”. A critical analysis of the risks typologies presented in the studies of domestic and foreign researchers that had allowed to draw a conclusion about their quantitative increase in the number of risks of corporations including such as: stoppages and disruptions of production due to the death and damage of assets (equipment, transport, raw materials); overvoltage of technical and technological systems; problems inadequate use of raw materials; rising costs and other factors. The author introduces the concept of the risk of loss of a corporation’s equity capital caused by a decrease in the value of assets, which can be identified by impairment testing, which ensures the reliability of the assessment of the accounting objects and elements of accounting (financial) statements. Risk assessment based on the assumption that assets are shown in reliable value in the appropriate accounts and ledgers, is one of the elements of internal control of the corporation and allows users to make informed economic decisions. Impairment testing involves the identification of external and internal indicators characteristic of certain assets, the calculation of the amount of impairment, systematization and disclosure of information in accounting and reporting. Along with the recommended risks typology it is advisable for the Ministry of Finance of Russia to include in the list of risks to be disclosed in the accounting (financial) statements, the risks of loss of equity capital due to asset depreciation. It has been proven that the analysis and assessment involve identifying risk-forming factors, determining the level of risk and developing measures to reduce the risk. Therefore, it is expediently to systematize the risk information in corporate accounting and reporting standards, the use of which is recommended by the Federal Law “On Accounting”.

The paper considers the issues of evaluating the results of intellectual activity (RIA), being elaborated in the course of innovative projects as an intangible asset (IA). In particular, the authors proposed a methodology developed in accordance with the provisions contained in state and departmental documents which can be used for accounting and tax accounting purposes: when placing identified and created the RIA on the balance sheet of a company in order to speed up these processes as well as increase the efficiency of procedures for commercialization of the RIAs owned by a company. Also, this research defines the types of rights to the protected RIA, the concept of their initial and market value, and commercial potential. The methodology can become a tool for stimulating performers to create market-promising results of research and development work.

The article considers the essence of intermodal transportation, determines its main advantages for both parties of the cargo transportation process, and presents the composition of existing intermodal complexes as the main part of the functioning of the country’s transport system. The emphasis is made on the specifics of the modern customer-centered economy, which directly affects the organization of international transportation. In the paper, the author uses both qualitative and quantitative methods of analyzing research data provided by other authors as well as retrospective statistical data. A comparative analysis of the work of successful companies in the field of intermodal transport is made. The ways to increase the competitiveness of the Russian economy in the world market through the development of modern logistics schemes for the movement of goods are considered. The article describes the activities of domestic companies, their features, shortcomings and methods of work in the context of the globalization of the economy with a graphical interpretation of the models used by them. The practical recommendations to improve the functioning of the objects of research are given.

The relevance of the research topic is due to the fact that since 2013, the Bank of Russia which acts as a mega-regulator of the financial market, has been delegated the powers to exercise supervision and control over it, including over the activities of its professional participants. Since the work of the latter is associated with the use of not only their own funds, but also with the attraction of clients’ funds, it is important to have constant control over their activities, where the main source of information is reporting. Supervised organizations are required to submit to the Bank of Russia not only accounting (financial) statements but supervisory statements as well. It makes possible to form a more complete picture of their activities. The goal of the study is to review the current composition and procedure for submitting supervisory and statistical reporting by professional participants in the securities market. The author uses methods of comparative and system analysis of scientific publications, regulatory and legal sources. Currently, there is an improvement in the legal regulation of the supervisory reporting of professional participants in the securities market. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation is implementing a project to switch non-bank financial institutions to an electronic reporting format based on eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) specifications [1]. This allows to present more reliable and high-quality reporting data, increase the openness and transparency of the financial information provided by financial market participants. The project includes a sequential transition for all non-bank financial institutions but XBRL reporting is already mandatory for a number of institutions. As a result, the concept of “supervisory-statistical reporting” and the content of reporting forms. Also, the author identified the advantages of using the XBRL format and the complexity of its implementation in supervised organizations. The conclusion was made about the need to improve the legal regulation and expand the scope of digital technologies.