These may seem like obvious points. But what might be less immediately obvious is how these points relate to issues of accounting and accountability. Accounting is a powerful tool (or range of tools) which has conventionally been used to seek to optimize the economic performance of organizations. A range of management accounting techniques has helped managers plan and control their activities so that they (for commercial organizations) maximize their profits and (for those providing public services) maximize the benefits of funding available to them. A range of financial accounting techniques has helped communicate aspects of the economic performance of organizations to a range of stakeholders (primarily owners in the case of larger for-profit entities) who are not involved in the day-to-day running of the organization. As such, these financial accounting techniques have provided the mechanisms through which managers have been able to discharge duties of accountability to shareholders or stockholders (owners) who are not involved in the day-to-day running of the business.