Chapter 2 Professional Ethics for Accountants

AICPA membership is not a requirement of the CPA profession, but it does help
accounting professionals stand out by proving they’re being held to a higher
professional and ethical standard. Membership also helps CPAs stay up to date
with the most recent changes within the industry. Part 3 of the Code is the shortest of the three major sections of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. Part 1 applies to members in public accounting, and part 2 applies to members in business (industry or government). Part 3 applies to other members who are neither employed in public accounting nor in business. This primarily applies to CPAs who are not currently working because they are between jobs or retired.

The interpretations of rule 502 define what it means for advertising to be false, misleading, or deceptive. The interpretations also hold the CPA responsible for the advertising of any third-party that advertises to obtain clients on behalf of the CPA. Objectivity and Independence – To be independent “in fact” means by all typical measures. However, there are some times that an accountant meets the requirements for independence, but the circumstances might cause other people to doubt the accountant’s independence.

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Scope and Nature of Services – this principle basically states that when accepting new clients, engagements, or tasks you should consider the first five principles and only accept the new work if you can comply with all of the principles. We actually encounter or apply accounting in our daily lives – in budgeting, computing household expenses, checking bank balances, counting change, and many more. The simple things we do and encounter everyday can actually be related to some level of accounting. You make budgets, count change and check the receipts from the supermarket. You may also have listed things you spent your money on at one point in your life.

  • Summary of the effect of revenues and expenses over a period of time.
  • For example, if a bank engaged a licensee to perform an audit of an association, the bank (the engaging entity) and the association (the subject entity) would be two separate clients.
  • Prepare for business school by establishing your career goals and selecting an accredited university that offers the degree program and specialization you want.
  • A member’s fees may vary depending, for example, on the complexity of services rendered.

Interpretations of the Rules of Conduct are slightly less authoritative. Interpretations are intended to provide a better explanation of the rules. Members should comply with the interpretations; failure to do so places the burden on the CPA to justify why they did not comply with the interpretation.

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“the art of recording, classifying, and summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money, transactions and events which are, in part at least of financial character, and interpreting the results thereof.” A person entering into a short sale believes the price of the item will decline between the date of the short sale and the date he or she must purchase the item to deliver the item under the terms of the short sale. Any kind of transferable certificate of ownership including equity securities and debt securities. Financial and informational disclosures required by the SEC in order to comply with certain sections of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Some of the more common filings that publicly owned companies must submit are the form 10-K, form 10-Q and form 8-K.

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An LLC is formed by filing articles of organization with an appropriate state official. Process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding achievement of various management objectives such as the reliability of financial reports. Income
item which is excluded from a taxpayer’s gross income by the internal
revenue code https://personal-accounting.org/aicpa/ or an administrative action. Common exclusions include
gifts, inheritances, and death proceeds paid under a life insurance
contract. Tax
on the value of a decedent’s taxable estate, typically defined as the
decedent’s assets less liabilities and certain expenses which may
include funeral and administrative expenses.

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For many services performed by CPAs, independence and objectivity are essential. To maintain their independence and objectivity, the contingent fees rule prohibits charging contingent fees for specified types of services. Public Interest – Even though a CPA is paid by the client for an audit, the CPA is issuing a financial statement opinion for the benefit for the public. This includes anyone who uses the financial statements to make investment decisions, and those who use the information for analysis. The CPA must always remember that our profession relies on the public trust. In December 2019, the Auditing Standards Board issued Statement on Auditing Standards No. 138, Amendments to the Description of the Concept of Materiality (SAS 138), which amends the definition of materiality.

The AICPA also conducts the CPA examination, creates training materials used for continuing professional education, sets ethical standards to be followed by CPAs, and publishes periodicals dealing with tax and accounting issues. However, the AICPA still retains its standards-setting responsibilities in such areas as professional ethics, business valuation, financial statement auditing, attest services, and CPA firm quality control. The AICPA is integral to rule-making in the CPA profession and serves as an advocate for legislative bodies and public interest groups. Independent accountants/auditors often have access to highly sensitive client information. This rule establishes that independent accountants owe a high degree of confidentiality to their clients. This rule prohibits auditors from disclosing illegal acts, unless there is a legal requirement to do so.

CFEs gather evidence, take statements, write reports and assist in investigating fraud in its varied forms. CFEs are employed by most major corporations and government agencies, and others provide consulting and investigative services. Certified Fraud Examiners come from various professions, including auditors, CPAs, fraud investigators, loss prevention specialists, attorneys, educators and criminologists. A CPA with the CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) designation is a certified public accountant who specializes in fraud examination. Having dual certification increases one’s credibility, earning potential and career possibilities due to, in part, increased demand in the marketplace and the rise in financial crimes.

By providing exclusive guidance and specialized resources — including prestigious designations, certifications and credentials — we empower you to create an even brighter tomorrow, both for yourself and for the profession. The American Institute of CPAs® (AICPA) and its predecessors have served the public interest for 136 years. The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants® (CIMA) was founded in 1919 and has helped shaped the profession for over a century. In 2017, we came together as AICPA & CIMA to forge a powerful international alliance that promotes accounting and finance in every corner of the world.

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