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44 Examples of Management Accountability

John Spacey, updated on April 17, 2024

Management accountability is the duty to answer for business outcomes. Accountability is tied to authority whereby the power to avoid problems and risks creates a duty to answer for results. Where authority is delegated, accountability can't be fully delegated such that you remain accountable for work that you assign to others. The following are common types of management accountability.

Alignment to organization’s strategy, policy and principles	Appropriate candor and directness in communication
Budget control	Compliance
Cost control	Customer advocacy – using customer feedback to improve
Customer service & customer satisfaction	Data protection
Data stewardship	Efficient use of resources
Employee feedback	Environmental stewardship
Financial oversight	Following requisite processes
Goal Setting	Hiring
Knowledge capture and sharing	Managing low performance
Meeting commitments	Meeting management and facilitation
Onboarding	Partner management
Policy implementation	Process monitoring and oversight
Project delivery	Quality control and assurance
Record keeping	Regular performance reviews
Reporting	Resource allocation - putting resources to work
Risk management	Sales results & revenue growth
Security compliance	Setting expectations for work performance
Stakeholder relationships	Talent retention
Team communication	Team development
Team performance	Team strategy and planning
Timely performance feedback	Transparency
Waste reduction	Workforce management – managing contractors, freelancers and employees

Summary

Managers are accountable for their performance relative to their authority and role in each situation. If their low performance or poor behavior causes issues, accountability requires taking responsibility for these issues. The top level managers of a firm are accountable for the entire firm without any ability to transfer this to lower level employees who are accountable only for their role.