Editorial

Citation

Ball, A., Milne, M.J. and Maberly, E. (2008), "Editorial", Pacific Accounting Review, Vol. 20 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/par.2008.34220caa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Pacific Accounting Review, Volume 20, Issue 3

2008 marks the beginning of a new phase in the development of Pacific Accounting Review. We are pleased to announce that PAR has now moved to three issues per year, one of which will take up a specific theme initiated by commissioned guest editors. Volume 20 No. 2 on Gender Counts: “Work”, “Life” and Identity in Accounting Practice and Education saw Editor Amanda Ball (University of Canterbury) team up with Jo Brewis (University of Leicester) to produce a varied, exciting and excellent set of papers and shorter debate pieces on gender, family and work-life balance in both the accounting profession and accounting education. Looking forward to 2009, we have commissioned Keith Dixon (University of Canterbury) and Michael Gaffikin (University of Wollongong) to co-edit a themed issue of PAR on a “Pacific odyssey”, in which they seek papers on the application of finance, accounting, auditing, tax and associated technologies in Pacific contexts, including in their construction of Pacific populations and economies. And for 2010, Editorial Advisory Board members David Lont (University of Otago) and Norman Wong (University Of Auckland) have teamed up to lead a special issue on “Issues in financial accounting and reporting”, with an emphasis on the Pacific Rim and IFRS. David and Norman have already been particularly proactive with this issue and secured a best manuscript award from the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. For further details on these special issues see the calls for papers later in this issue. The passion, energy and commitment that our guest editors have and are putting into the development of the journal is gratefully acknowledged, and very much appreciated.

The fundamental aims and scope of PAR remain unchanged, and PAR will continue to be known for publishing papers on a wide range of topics with a Pacific Rim focus, and for encouraging research using a wide range of research methodologies. We will maintain PAR’s emphasis on Pacific Rim scholarship, and continue to promote and assist emerging scholars within the Pacific Rim. In addition to encouraging an eclectic range of full research papers in all areas of accounting, auditing, finance and related fields, we are also keen to receive shorter “debate pieces” and “commentary” that stimulate interest on emerging issues, but which are still subject to editorial scrutiny. We strongly encourage enquiries from prospective authors of full research papers or shorter items about the suitability of their work in progress for publication in PAR.

This year we have expanded and rejuvenated our editorial board, looking to increase the representation of both women and a wider range of expertise and interests. We have added ten further members as follows: Rachel Baskerville (Exeter University), Tyrone Carlin (Macquarie Graduate School of Management), Jesse Dillard (Portland State University), Keith Dixon (University of Canterbury), Jill Hooks (Massey University, Albany), Rosina Mladenovic (University of Sydney), Christine Ryan (Queensland University of Technology), Jenny Stewart (Griffith University), Rosalind Whiting (University of Otago) and Norman Wong (The University of Auckland). This brings our complement of EAB members to 43 in total, and we will aim over the next few years to bring this up to 50 or so. We are grateful that all those approached accepted without hesitation. Similarly, we are also grateful for the continuing support we receive from a wide range of excellent ad-hoc reviewers.

We would also like to acknowledge the support we receive from the Emerald Publishing Group, support which we see taking the journal from strength to strength in terms of its publicity, increasing its accessibility and its readership, as well as leading to the generation of a professional looking product within a stable of other accounting and finance journals. PAR moved to Emerald in 2007, and since then Simon Linacre, Emerald Publisher, and Rebecca Forster, Assistant Publisher, have been a tremendous source of support in both producing and advertising the journal. Having PAR accessible on-line in full text format as part of the Emerald Insight data base is certainly a boon for the journal. Similarly, seeing the publicity flyers produced for the journal, and its first special issue at leading accounting conferences in Australia, the US and Europe as well as on the website is also good news for our authors and potential authors.

It has also been pleasing to see the “B” ranking of PAR in the Australian Business Deans Council journals rating list[1]. In this context, the Editors remain committed to serving the accounting and finance scholarship community in the Pacific Rim, developing the relevance of the journal to the readership, and building PAR’s reputation for concerned, quality research which advances the disciplines of accounting and finance. Improving relative positioning in journal rankings is not seen as an end in itself, although we acknowledge the salience of these rankings to Pacific Rim Scholars under various university funding regimes.

Finally, it would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the tremendous support we receive from the rest of our editorial team. To Richard Fisher for continuing to source a supply of books to review and to find reviewers who produce on time, our thanks. And our especial thanks to Annette Wanty, our ever hard working Editorial Assistant.

Amanda Ball, Markus J. Milne, Edwin Maberly

Note

www.abdc.edu.au/3.36.0.0.1.0.htm (accessed 27 August 2008).