Abstract
This study investigates how CEOs with extensive CSR expertise allocate and spend financial resources on CSR initiatives, and how ownership structure moderates these decisions. Using a comprehensive dataset of Omani listed companies from 2016 to 2023, and employing unique proxies for CSR activities, the analysis reveals that CEOs with CSR expertise significantly improve firms’ disclosure of CSR-related financial information, reflecting greater transparency and commitment to responsible practices. The results further show that such CEOs tend to set larger CSR budgets and allocate more financial resources to CSR programs. These relationships are not uniform across firms; they are moderated by ownership characteristics. Specifically, institutional ownership enhances the positive influence of CEO CSR expertise on CSR spending, while family ownership tends to weaken it. Additional analyses demonstrate that CEOs’ CSR expertise improves the efficiency of resource allocation to CSR activities, leading to more targeted spending and contributing to higher firm value. The findings provide valuable theoretical insights into the monetary aspects of CSR and underline the strategic role of CEO expertise in shaping CSR financial decisions. They also offer practical implications for firms, boards of directors, investors, and regulators interested in improving CSR budgeting processes and increasing the social and economic value generated from CSR initiatives.