Accounting Ethics
The harmless or not-so-harmless lies of Bobby Glick
From a strictly utilitarian perspective, it might be that the scenario outlined in the Glick case does not seem so morally questionable. Glick, as a new and untested employee right out of college, was naturally apprehensive about how his competency would be viewed. He studied, successfully passed his CPA exam, and acquitted himself admirably 'on the job.' No one was harmed by his concealment: indeed, his firm benefited from having a highly competent employee concerned about his reputation working for them.
However, viewing professional ethics from a purely utilitarian perspective is extremely problematic. Professional ethics by its nature assumes certain 'standards' which professionals must uphold, even if the consequences are not bad -- in fact, even if the consequences of the unethical action are 'good' (Driver 2009). For example, someone with no CPA license could lie, get employment with a CPA firm, and do a wonderful job for 10 years. This would still be wrong and unethical, according to the standards of the profession, because when someone pays for the services of a CPA, the person should get the services of a CPA. Even if people benefited from the work of the fake CPA, his actions would still be wrong.
In contrast, utilitarianism (also called consequentialism) holds: "Consequences -- and only consequences...
Loyalty to the client was clearly placed above loyalty to the overall public good and the standards of the profession. "Enron paid Andersen $25 million for its audit…and $27 million for 'consulting' and other services" which meant that Anderson had a substantial financial stake in retaining Enron as a client (Kadlec 2002). The Enron case illustrates the difficulty of self-policing within the industry. Today, providing additional services besides the
Accounting Ethics Ethics of Accounting There have been breaches in the ethics of accounting in recent times. With that in mind, evaluate whether or not the current trend in the regulation of business establishments is favorable to ethical behavior. Supply supportive evidence to your answers (Jeter, 2003). The generally accepted principles of accounting and the standards of auditing in contemporary practice stipulate that the financial statements of any establishment should contain the following
This could further lead to resentment and eventually to resignations. To eliminate this problem, John Smith could firstly discuss the issue with the professionals involved and request ideas for the firm's new title. He could also use the previous title as a guideline, as this would provide both a starting point for the new era, as well as the idea that the previous owner and the staff that remains
This article does shed light on how the Duncan Donuts organization should look at to improve the ethical responsibility of accounting practices. Making accounting practices available to the public and shareholders can then ensure a more ethical reputation for the organization itself. Additionally, implementing peer established reviews will also help strengthen the ethical image of the Duncan Donuts brand and its affiliates. Accounting ethics is essential in financial decision making. It
Accounting Ethics A Sad Tale: The Demise of Arthur Andersen Arthur Anderson was once a major accounting firm. The failure of the firm in 2002 may be attributed to bad ethical decisions which ultimately came to a head with the Enron scandal,. This scandal resulted not only in the loss of many clients prior to the SEC talking action against the firm, but the firm facing and being convicted of a felony.
Accounting Ethics The Dilemma The dilemma that Dan faces juxtaposes his loyalty to what are portrayed as his company's interests and to what are his own interests. Dan knows that the company is overstating the value of the property and that Oliver has acted against the long-run best interests of the company, but in favor of the short-run best interests of the company. That Oliver has already issued the negative opinion about
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