Accounting Ethics Essay -- essays research papers

paper will discuss the public perception of CPAs in today's society, pitfalls that they may encounter, methods to prevent some of these negative behaviors and consequences they may face should they fall short. Most "Who Do You Trust?" surveys rank politicians, lawyers and used car salesmen at the bottom and certified public accountants at the top. That is because the CPA profession has a squeaky clean image--anal-retentive little wimps who wear thick glasses and cannot get a date. CPAs are known and respected for their honesty. The profession that goes out of its way to project that image, and there is a certain amount of truth to it. Not all accountants are anal-retentive little wimps who cannot get a date. Many of them are quite articulate. Some are quite lovely, in some schools, more than half of the accounting majors are women. Also, not all CPAs are squeaky clean and respected for their honesty. Some are quite dishonest and are putting a black mark on the image of the entire profession. There is one area where the CPA profession has fallen short of protecting the public interest. The general duty that accountants owe to their clients and the other persons who are affected by their actions is to "exercise the skill and care of the ordinarily prudent accountant" in the same circumstances. Two elements compose the general duty of performance: skill and care. Another element and responsibility is owed to clients and other persons, that is that accountants should observe a standard of ethical or social responsibility. One set of difficulties concerns ethics education's ability to instill the chosen values and to make them stick after the educational process is completed. Instru ction in accounting ethics is directed at people whose character-or lack there-of-has largely been formed by the time the instruction occurs. Although such instruction should increase the moral awareness of those who are already predisposed to listen, its effect on the basically self-interested, indifferent, or unethical is questionable. Even those who are positively influenced by ethics instruction, moreover, may still behave irresponsibly if their careers or their livelihoods require them to act in their client's financial interest. Recent pressure to include more ethics instruction in the accounting classroom has placed an emphasis on individuals who have a sen... ... the trust instilled in me very seriously. I hope that this paper has enlightened you to the pitfalls many certified public accountants face today, both with ethical standards and with impending educational requirements. Reference Page Fulmer, W.E. and B.R. Cargile: 1987, "Ethical Perceptions of Accounting Students: Does Exposure to a Code of Professional Ethics Help?" Issues in Accounting Education 2, 207-219. Loeb, S.E.: 1988, "Teaching Students Accounting Ethics: Some Crucial Issues', Issues in Accounting Education 3, 316-329. Metzger, J.D.: 1992. "Business Law and the Regulatory Environment: Consepts and Cases 8th Edition. 1061. McGee, Robert W., "CPAs vs. the Public Interest". Dumont Institute, Ethic Information Center. 1. Whiteck, C: 1992, 'The Trouble with Dilemmas: Rethinking Applied Ethic', Professional Ethics 1, 119-142. er, J.D.: 1992. "Business Law and the Regulatory Environment: Consepts and Cases 8th Edition. 1061. McGee, Robert W., "CPAs vs. the Public Interest". Dumont Institute, Ethic Information Center. 1. Whiteck, C: 1992, 'The Trouble with Dilemmas: Rethinking Applied Ethic', Professional Ethics 1, 119-142.