ACCA 2027 · Strategic Professional, core
ACCA S1 Business and Sustainability Reporting
S1 Business and Sustainability Reporting is a Strategic Professional (core)-level exam in ACCA’s 2027 qualification. It replaces SBR — Strategic Business Reporting. It is a Session CBE, 3 hours 15 minutes, 100 marks exam with a 50% pass mark, and the first exams run from September 2027.
Key facts
- Level
- Strategic Professional (core)
- Format
- Session CBE · 3 hours 15 minutes · 100 marks
- Pass mark
- 50%
- Replaces
- SBR — Strategic Business Reporting
- First exams
- September 2027 (session CBE, four sittings a year)
- Syllabus
- 6 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F), 6 subsections, 26 learning outcomes
- Employability module at this level
- Ethical, Sustainable Leadership
Overview
What S1 covers
S1 Business and Sustainability Reporting succeeds SBR with a major addition: sustainability reporting is integrated throughout the paper, not just as a bolt-on section. IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS S1, IFRS S2) are examinable alongside the traditional IFRS financial reporting standards. The paper tests the ability to apply professional judgement to complex reporting scenarios.
Exam format
| Part | Detail |
|---|---|
| Section A | 1 × 50-mark scenario |
| Section B | 2 × 25-mark scenarios |
| Overall | 3 hr 15 min |
| Overall | all compulsory |
Key changes vs SBR
- Major new Section E: Sustainability Reporting (IFRS S1, IFRS S2, GRI, TCFD, SASB)
- Sustainability integrated across the paper, not isolated
- Connectivity between financial and sustainability reporting emphasised
- Assurance of sustainability information included
- Professional skills assessed throughout (20 marks)
- Paper renamed from "Strategic Business Reporting" to include "Sustainability"
Syllabus comparison
SBR → S1: topic-by-topic changes
30 changes, from whole sections removed to topics added or raised in intellectual level.
| Change | Area or topic | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| EXAM FORMAT | Structure and mark allocation | Sec A: Q1=30 (group + other FR + spreadsheet), Q2=20 (reporting + ethical implications); Sec B: Q3=25, Q4=25 (any area, always includes stakeholder perspective); 4 professional skills marks total; 3hr 15min → Sec A: 1×50 (group scenario; 36 tech + 8 professional ethics + 6 PS; always consolidated FS spreadsheet + D1 ethics); Sec B: Q1=30 (26 tech + 4 PS), Q2=20 (18 tech + 2 PS; always sustainability section C); 20 marks total (8 professional ethics + 12 professional skills); 3hr 15min |
| ADDED | Sustainability Reporting — entire Section C (5 subsections) | SBR F1c: one outcome covering IFRS SDS scope/objectives/core content/ESRS comparison at [3] → S1 C1–C5: Scope 1/2/3 GHG emissions; IFRS SDS materiality, value chain, climate disclosures; comparative data; measurement uncertainty; commercial sensitivity omission; interconnectedness; qualitative characteristics; strategic advice; IFRS SDS vs ESRS materiality. Always examined in Sec B Q2 |
| ADDED | AI use in financial reporting — ethics (D1a) | Not in SBR A1a → S1 D1a: explicitly includes “including the use of artificial intelligence (AI)” in evaluating compliance with ACCA Code |
| ADDED | Data collection, storage, use and sharing by accountants (D1b) | Not in SBR → S1 D1b: evaluate whether collection/storage/use/sharing of data is in accordance with ACCA Code of Ethics |
| ADDED | Agriculture / IAS 41 (A14) | Not in SBR → S1 A14: recognition, initial and subsequent measurement, derecognition of biological assets and agricultural produce [3] |
| ADDED | Strategic advice outcomes (A27, C4) | SBR E1a covered EPS and performance measures from stakeholder perspective; SBR had no explicit “advise on impact of management proposals on cash flows/FP/EPS” standalone outcome → S1 A27: advise on potential impact of proposals on cash flows, financial position, EPS/diluted EPS; evaluate management plans against IFRS [3]. S1 C4: same for sustainability context [3] |
| ADDED | Professional skills as formal syllabus section (E) | SBR had professional skills marks (4 total) but no formal Section E → S1 E1–E4: Communication; Analysis and evaluation; Scepticism; Commercial acumen — all [3] with learning outcomes |
| ADDED | Guaranteed ethics requirement in Section A | SBR Q2 (20 marks) required consideration of ethical implications; not always within the group question → S1 Sec A 50-mark group question always includes D1 ethics requirement |
| ADDED | Commercial sensitivity grounds for omitting sustainability information (C2f) | Not in SBR → S1 C2f: advise whether information can be omitted from sustainability disclosures on commercial sensitivity grounds [3] |
| ADDED | Interconnectedness between sustainability disclosures and financial statements (C2g) | Not in SBR → S1 C2g: evaluate the interconnectedness between sustainability disclosures and financial statements [3] |
| REMOVED | IFRS for SMEs (SBR C11e) | SBR C11e: key differences in accounting treatment between full IFRS and IFRS for SMEs Standard, including simplifications [2] → Not in S1 |
| REMOVED | SBR B — Financial reporting framework (standalone section) | SBR B1: Conceptual Framework importance; objectives/principles/limitations of financial reporting; qualitative characteristics; recognition/measurement principles; definitions of elements [3] → Not a standalone section in S1; Conceptual Framework is applied throughout A and C |
| REMOVED | SBR E — Interpret financial information for stakeholders (standalone section) | SBR E1: EPS and other metrics from stakeholder perspectives; operating segment disclosures; factors affecting quality of financial/non-financial info for investors [3] → Content absorbed: operating segments → S1 A23 (retained, expanded to 3 outcomes); strategic advice → S1 A27; usefulness → S1 A26. EPS now in A27 strategic advice context |
| REMOVED | SBR F1a — appraise implications of adopting new accounting standards | SBR F1a [2] → Not in S1 |
| REMOVED | SBR F1b — apply existing standards to contemporary issues (digital assets, natural disasters, climate change, global events) | SBR F1b [3] → Not retained as standalone outcome; climate change absorbed into sustainability Section C |
| REMOVED | Group exemption from preparing consolidated FS (SBR D1k) | SBR D1k [1] → Not in S1 |
| REMOVED | Subsidiary applying reduced disclosures in separate FS (SBR D1l) | SBR D1l [1] → Not in S1 |
| REMOVED | SBR G — Employability and Technology Skills (entire section) | SBR G1–G4: use technology; work under time pressure; navigate screens; present data → Not in S1 as standalone; technology use embedded in professional skills section E |
| RAISED | Employee benefits: settlements/curtailments, asset ceiling | SBR C5b (settlements/curtailments) [2]; SBR C5c (asset ceiling and actuarial gains/losses) [2] → S1 A6c: all DB pension plan accounting including settlements, curtailments, plan amendments, asset ceiling test [3] |
| RAISED | Expected credit losses and credit-impaired financial assets | SBR C3g (ECL general approach) [2]; SBR C3h (significant increase in credit risk) [2]; SBR C3i (purchased or originated credit-impaired) [2] → S1 A4i: all three consolidated at [3] |
| RAISED | Deferred tax on business combination | SBR C6b [2] → S1 A20c [3] |
| RAISED | Derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities | SBR C3c [2] → S1 A4c/d [3] |
| RAISED | Professional marks | SBR: 4 professional skills marks total → S1: 20 marks (8 professional ethics + 12 professional skills) |
| RETAINED | Core IFRS standards application (revenue, financial instruments core, leases, PPE, intangibles, investment property, impairment, share-based payments, provisions, exchange rates) | SBR C1–C10 [3] → S1 A3–A12, A15–A18 [3] — same depth, same level |
| RETAINED | Group accounting (subsidiaries, associates, JVs, consolidation, foreign operations) | SBR D1–D3 [3] → S1 B1–B3 [3] — same depth, same level |
| RETAINED | Derivatives and hedge accounting | SBR C3e–f [2] → S1 A4g–h [2] — same level |
| RETAINED | Deferred tax (IAS 12) core | SBR C6a [3] → S1 A20a–b [3] |
| RETAINED | Operating segment disclosures (IFRS 8) | SBR E1b [3] → S1 A23 [3] — retained and expanded from 1 outcome to 3 separate outcomes |
| RETAINED | Fair value measurement (IFRS 13) | SBR C9 [3] → S1 A21 [3] |
| RETAINED | Ethics core (ACCA Code, consequences, safeguards) | SBR A1 [3] → S1 D1 [3] — retained and expanded with AI and data use outcomes |
Syllabus
S1 syllabus breakdown
Every section, subsection and learning outcome in the S1 Business and Sustainability Reporting syllabus.
AThe Financial Reporting Framework
A1Framework and standards
- Evaluate the Conceptual Framework and its application
- Evaluate the standard-setting process and emerging issues
- Understand the role of integrated reporting and connectivity
BReporting the Financial Performance of Entities
B1Complex IFRS application
- Apply and evaluate complex IFRS scenarios: revenue (IFRS 15), leases (IFRS 16), financial instruments (IFRS 9)
- Apply and evaluate group accounting: acquisitions, disposals, complex structures (IFRS 3, IFRS 10, IAS 28)
- Apply and evaluate fair value measurement (IFRS 13)
- Apply and evaluate share-based payments (IFRS 2)
- Apply and evaluate income taxes (IAS 12) in complex scenarios
CFinancial Statements of Groups
C1Group reporting
- Prepare and evaluate consolidated financial statements for complex groups
- Account for foreign subsidiaries and associates
- Evaluate the impact of changes in group structure
- Apply disclosure requirements for groups
DInterpreting Financial Statements
D1Analysis
- Evaluate the financial performance and position of entities using ratio analysis
- Assess the quality of financial reporting
- Evaluate the impact of accounting policy choices
- Apply professional scepticism in interpreting financial statements
ESustainability Reporting
E1Sustainability standards and frameworks
- Apply IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information
- Apply IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures
- Evaluate sustainability reporting frameworks: GRI, TCFD, SASB
- Understand integrated reporting and the connectivity between financial and sustainability reporting
- Evaluate the assurance of sustainability information
- Assess the impact of sustainability issues on financial reporting
FProfessional Skills
F1Professional skills
- Communication
- Analysis and evaluation
- Scepticism
- Commercial acumen
ACCA S1: frequently asked questions
What is the ACCA S1 exam format?
S1 Business and Sustainability Reporting is a Session CBE, 3 hours 15 minutes, 100 marks exam. Structure: Section A: 1 × 50-mark scenario · Section B: 2 × 25-mark scenarios · 3 hr 15 min · all compulsory. Pass mark: 50%.
When is the first ACCA S1 exam?
September 2027. New Expertise and Strategic Professional exams start with the September 2027 session. The current syllabus’s last sitting is June 2027.
Which current ACCA paper does S1 replace?
SBR — Strategic Business Reporting. See the old-to-new paper mapping for every paper.
I passed SBR. Do I need to sit S1?
Our mapping links SBR Strategic Business Reporting to S1, and ACCA maps exams passed under the current syllabus to the new structure, so you should not retake equivalent content. Check your full position in the transition planner and confirm with ACCA’s Transition Tool.
What changed in S1 compared with SBR?
Major new Section E: Sustainability Reporting (IFRS S1, IFRS S2, GRI, TCFD, SASB). Sustainability integrated across the paper, not isolated. Connectivity between financial and sustainability reporting emphasised. Assurance of sustainability information included.
Clear SBR before June 2027
SBR maps to S1. Passing it on the current syllabus before the last sitting means one less exam to sit in the new qualification.