Over the past decade or so, corporate reporting has broadened to cover issues not addressed in quarterly or annual GAAP financial reports. At present, such…
In Brief The PCAOB inspects audits of registered public accounting firms and identifies deficiencies in gathering audit evidence and internal controls over financial reporting and…
In Brief The PCAOB inspects audits of registered public accounting firms and identifies deficiencies in gathering audit evidence and internal controls over financial reporting and…
The question of how to teach ethics has plagued academics for generations, with some even wondering whether it can be taught at all. Steven Mintz,…
In Brief Performing certain nonaudit services for audit clients can impair independence. Misrepresenting nonaudit services as immaterial and mischaracterizing them as audit services obscures the…
In Brief Accounting educators have used ethical decision-making models to teach ethics to accounting students for many years. The traditional models rely on prescriptive reasoning…
Trust is among the most important commodities in the world, and it is in increasingly short supply. The 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, a yearly survey…
By Steven Mintz and Roselyn Morris McGraw-Hill Education, 2019, ISBN 978-1259969461, $287.30 (Hardcover) Reviewed by Edward Mendlowitz Before I begin my review of this casebook…
The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct proclaims that its members should serve the public interest, defined as “the collective well-being of the community” (Section 0.300.030, https://pub.aicpa.org/codeofconduct/Ethics.aspx#).…
In Brief Fraud continues to be a pervasive problem for businesses across the world. Nevertheless, most business ethics programs are compliance driven and thus fail…
Codifying the Fundamental Principles of ‘Professional Behavior’
Strengthening Professionalism by Enhancing Moral Conduct
In Brief Acts considered “discreditable to the profession” are those that bring harm to one's reputation or that of the profession. Acts of “moral turpitude”…
The Myth of Auditor Independence
Waking Up to Unconscious Bias
The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct requires that members in public practice be objective, free of conflicts of interest, and independent in fact and appearance…
In Brief Accounting educators have used ethical decision-making models to teach ethics to accounting students for many years. The traditional models rely on prescriptive reasoning…
ICYMI | Accounting in the Public Interest
An Historical Perspective on Professional Ethics
In Brief The commitment to serve the public interest in accounting has eroded, as personal and business relationships with clients and client management increasingly create…
Given the recent spate of financial and accounting scandals, greater attention has been placed on the importance of strong ethical behavior on the part of…
How the New Ethics Code Will Affect Your Standards
An Interview with Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chair
Given the recent spate of financial and accounting scandals, greater attention has been placed on the importance of strong ethical behavior on the part of…
The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct proclaims that its members should serve the public interest, defined as “the collective well-being of the community” (Section 0.300.030, https://pub.aicpa.org/codeofconduct/Ethics.aspx#).…
Ethical Issues
A Panel Discussion
About the Panelists The panel featured Catherine Allen, CPA, ethics consultant and also a founder of Audit Conduct; Brian Lynch, CPA, risk management and independence…
Conflict Minerals Disclosure Requirements and Corporate Social Responsibility
Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
In Brief Among the many topics of concern for companies and investors interested in social responsibility is the use of minerals sourced from war zones…
ICYMI | Ethical Dilemmas Facing CPAs: Three Case Studies
Managing Risk and Resolving Conflicts
People are generally optimistic, and no one wants to think about a good situation falling apart. CPAs like the idea of doing clients a favor,…
Changes are coming on the international front for the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants and Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations (NOCLAR) standards. While the international code…
ICYMI | Opinion: AICPA Proposal Raises the Ethical Bar
Incorporating International Standards into the Code of Professional Conduct
In February 2017, the AICPA's Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) agreed to propose modifications to the Code of Professional Conduct that would require certain actions…
In Brief The current upward trend of CPA firm merger and acquisition activity shows no signs of slowing down. CPA firms and individual professionals must…
ICYMI | Developing Ethical Leaders for the Accounting Profession
Finding Inspiration from the Coast Guard Academy
The public relies on professionals. Medicine, teaching, law, accounting, the military, the clergy, and public safety, among many others, have all been regarded as honorable…
ICYMI | Applying the AICPA’s Professional Standards to Tax Practice
Best Practices for Minimizing Risk and Penalties
The AICPA's Statements on Standards for Tax Services (SSTS) are now an authoritative part of the Code of Professional Conduct. As such, they are now…
Accounting in the Public Interest
An Historical Perspective on Professional Ethics
In Brief The commitment to serve the public interest in accounting has eroded, as personal and business relationships with clients and client management increasingly create…
Two years ago, this author was granted space in these pages to ponder the point of the accountancy profession (Tony Bromell and Martin Martinoff, “What…
Alignment Sought For Asset Acquisition, Business Combinations Guidance
FASB/AICPA/IFAC News
FASB News Alignment Sought for Asset Acquisition, Business Combinations Guidance FASB is considering beginning a project to reduce the differences between business combinations and acquisition…
The Authors Respond
Response to Charles Landes and Michael Glynn
We appreciate and thank Charles Landes and Michael Glynn for their letter commenting on our article. Rest assured that we are not discrediting the quality…
The Ethical State of the CPA Profession
A conversation with Tony Menendez and Steven Mintz
The debate over the ethical responsibilities of CPAs and how to fulfill them has always been at the center of the profession. Recently, The CPA…