Chap 1 Flashcards
Define ‘Ethics’
A set of moral principles and values
that guide behaviour
Define ‘Code of Ethics’
A set of standards
governing the conduct
of members of a certain profession
How should an accountant behave?
trustworthy
must consider public interest and social responsibility
What does CGMA stand for?
Chartered Global Management Accountant
What is the CGMA Code of Ethics?
As it says on tin
-Emphasises that accountants must act in the public interest
-Based on Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants published by IESBA
Transgressions of the Code - CGMA DO take action, IESBA and IFAC don’t. No legal consequences, but professional/commercial consequences
What is IESBA and IFAC
IESBA - International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants
IFAC -International Fedaration of Accountants
IESBA is a part of IFAC, which represents all the major accountancy bodies of the world. IFAC is not itself a membership body
The CGMA code sets out the basic needs of the accountancy profession, what are these?
PCPC
Professionalism
Credibility
Provide high quality services
Confidence
What are the Fundamental Principles of the code?
CIPOP
Confidentiality
Integrity
Professional behaviour
Objectivity
Professional competence and due care
What are the personal qualities required of an accountant?
CTR3
Courtesy
Timeliness
Reliability
Responsibility
Respect
What are the professional qualities required of an accountant?
SASI
Skepticism
Accountability
Social responsibility
Independence
What are the two ways to incorporate ethical behavior into organisations?
Rules Based/Complience approach
Principle based approach (conceptual framework)
Features of a rules based compliance approach
- Minimum standards must be achieved
- Punish offenders
- Supervision -inspections carried out
- Consistent and east to follow, but potential workarands
Features of a principles based compliance approach
- Law is basis for action
- Employees encouraged to take responsibility
- Management create environment to support ethical values
- Build values into systems
- Adaptable to diff situations and
- May lead to inconsistencies and confusion
What type of framework is CGMA?
Conceptual framework
Which organizational values promote ethical behaviour?
Openness, Honesty, Accountability
Respect Trust
Empowerment Leadership
What is the development cycle?
DADARE
Continual profession development is at the heart of CGMA membership
Define -expectations of roles
Assess - capabiliy gap
Design - a programme
Act - qualifications, training etc
Reflect
Evaluate
What is the FRC?
Financial Reporting Council
UK’s professional oversight board for accounting
-Regulates specific activities of UK accountancy bodies including CGMA
-Regulation covers: Training, CPD, conduct and discipline
What are the Seven Principles of public life?
LISA HOO
Leadership
Integrity - avoid actions that place under oblig
Selflessness -act in public interest not personal
Accountability - responsibility and prepared to be scrutinised
Honesty - declare private interests and resolve conflict
Objectivity - award contracts on merit
Openness - decisions must be freely avail
What is consequentialism?
focuess on consequences any action might have.
Must understand consequences of actions.
Moral = good consequences.
Situational and contingent (subject to change).
What is utilitarianism?
measures quality of outcome in terms of
greatest happiness for greatest number
What is best for majority
What is egoism?
What is best for me?
Any act is justified if any decision is based on the
needs/interests of the individual
making the decision
What is ethical relativism?
There are relative rights and wrongs, nothing is absolute. Some ethically wrong things are less important than others. Can lead to acceptance of ‘anything goes’
What is ethical absolutism
there are fixed rights and wrongs which are unvarying