PROFESSIONAL ETHICS CPAS ARE HELD TO THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDANDS Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall.It
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. 4 CPAs ARE HELD TO THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDANDS
Chapter 4 Issues Distinguish ethical from unethical behavior in personal and professional contexts. Why is this difficult without agreed-upon fundamentals/"moral absolutes? Resolve ethical dilemmas using an ethical framework-maybe? Perhaps a reward/penalty system? Describe the purpose and content of the Al CPa Code of Professional Conduct. Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall. Ii
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Chapter 4 Issues: Distinguish ethical from unethical behavior in personal and professional contexts. Why is this difficult without agreed-upon fundamentals/ “moral absolutes?” Resolve ethical dilemmas using an ethical framework - maybe? Perhaps a reward/penalty system? Describe the purpose and content of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
WHAT ARE ETHICS Each of us has such a set of values Ethics can be defined broadly as a set of moral principles or values. We many or may not have considered them explicitly Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall.It
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. WHAT ARE ETHICS ??????? Ethics can be defined broadly as a set of moral principles or values. Each of us has such a set of values We many or may not have considered them explicitly
Need for Ethics Ethical behavior is necessary for a society to function in an orderly manner The need for ethics in society is sufliciently important that many commonly held ethical values are incorporated into laws Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall.It
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Ethical behavior is necessary for a society to function in an orderly manner. The need for ethics in society is sufficiently important that many commonly held ethical values are incorporated into laws
When a person's moral standards Differ from yours Extreme examples of people whose behavior violates a wide array of moral standards are drug dealers, bank robbers, and sex offenders. Common american moral standards? Is fundamentalism good or bad? Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall.It
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. When a Person’s Moral Standards Differ from Yours Extreme examples of people whose behavior violates a wide array of moral standards are drug dealers, bank robbers, and sex offenders. Common American Moral Standards? Is fundamentalism good or bad?
Resolving Ethical Formal framework has been developed to help people resolve Dilemmas ethical dilemmas 1. obtain the relevant facts 2. Identify the ethical issues from the facts 3. Determine who is affected 4. Identify the alternatives available to the person who must resolve The six-step approach was intended to be a the dilemma simple approach to 5. Identify the likely consequences of resolving ethical each alternative dilemmas 6. Decide the appropriate action. (“ APPROPRIATE ACTION?” Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall.It
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Formal framework has been developed to help people resolve ethical dilemmas. The six-step approach was intended to be a simple approach to resolving ethical dilemmas. 1. Obtain the relevant facts. 2. Identify the ethical issues from the facts. 3. Determine who is affected. 4. Identify the alternatives available to the person who must resolve the dilemma. 5. Identify the likely consequences of each alternative. 6. Decide the appropriate action. (“APPROPRIATE ACTION?”)
Special Need for ethical Conduct In Professions Our society has attached a special meaning to the term professional. A professional is expected to conduct himself or herself at a higher level than most other members of society. Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall.It
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Special Need for Ethical Conduct In Professions Our society has attached a special meaning to the term professional. A professional is expected to conduct himself or herself at a higher level than most other members of society
Ways the Profession and society Encourage CPas to Conduct Themselves at a High Level GAAS and CPA interpretations examination Continuing requirements uality control Conduct of eoa CPA firm liability Peerreview personnel Division of SEC CPA firms Code of Professional Conduct @2000 by Prentice Hall. Inc
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Ways the Profession and Society Encourage CPAs to Conduct Themselves at a High Level GAAS and CPA interpretations examination Quality control Peer review Continuing education requirements Legal liability Division of CPA firms Code of Professional Conduct SEC Conduct of CPA firm personnel
Code of professional conduct Ideal standards of ethical conduct in Principles philosophical terms They are not enforceable. Rules of Minimum standards of ethical conduct stated as specific rules. conduct They are enforceable Interpretations of Interpretations of the rules of conduct by the aICPa Division of professional ethics the rules of conduct They are not enforceable, but a practitioner must justify departure Ethical Published explanations and answers to questions a bout the rules of conduct submitted to the aicpa b rulings practitioners and others interested in ethical requirements. They are not enforceable, but a practitioner must justify departure. Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall.It
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Code of Professional Conduct Principles Rules of conduct Interpretations of the rules of conduct Ethical rulings Ideal standards of ethical conduct in philosophical terms. They are not enforceable. Minimum standards of ethical conduct stated as specific rules. They are enforceable. Interpretations of the rules of conduct by the AICPA Division of Professional Ethics. They are not enforceable, but a practitioner must justify departure. Published explanations and answers to questions about the rules of conduct submitted to the AICPA by practitioners and others interested in ethical requirements. They are not enforceable, but a practitioner must justify departure
FIGURE 4-4 Standards of conduct Principles Rules of conduct Substandard conduct Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, &E @2000 by Prentice Hall.It
Arens, Loebbecke; Auditing, 8/E ©2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc. FIGURE 4-4 Standards of Conduct Principles Rules of conduct Substandard conduct
