Chapter 4: Professional Ethics Flashcards
Ethics are
A) needed in the professions, but is not needed for society in general.
B) a set of moral principles or values.
C) not formed by life experiences.
D) always incorporated in laws.
B) a set of moral principles or values.
________ means that a person acts according to conscience, regardless of the situation.
A) Caring
B) Fairness
C) Integrity
D) Respect
C) Integrity
Which of the following is a prescribed set of moral principles or values?
A) codes of business ethics for professional groups
B) laws and regulations
C) codes of conduct within an organization
D) all of the above
D) all of the above
One of the main reasons people act unethically is that they choose to act selfishly.
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
Most people define unethical behavior as conduct that differs from what they believe is appropriate given the circumstances.
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
A six-step approach is often used to resolve an ethical dilemma. The first step in this process is to
A) identify the alternative actions available.
B) identify the ethical issues from the facts.
C) determine who will be affected by the outcome of the dilemma.
D) obtain the relevant facts.
D) obtain the relevant facts.
Ethical frameworks help identify the ethical issues and will always lead to the appropriate course of action.
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
A rationalization method that can easily result in unethical behavior is the argument that “everybody does it.”
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
If an action is considered legal, it must also be considered ethical.
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
The underlying reason for a code of professional conduct for any profession is
A) the need for public confidence in the quality of service of the profession.
B) it provides a safeguard to keep unscrupulous people out.
C) it is required by federal legislation.
D) it allows licensing agencies to have a yardstick to measure deficient behavior.
A) the need for public confidence in the quality of service of the profession.
Which of the following statements is true when the CPA has been engaged to perform an audit of financial statements?
A) The CPA firm is engaged and paid by the client; therefore, the firm has primary responsibility to be an advocate for the client.
B) The CPA firm is engaged and paid by the client, but the primary beneficiaries of the audit are those who rely on the financial statements.
C) Should a situation arise where there is no convincing authoritative standard available, and there is a choice of actions which could impact a client’s financial statements, the CPA is free to endorse the choice which is in the investors’ interests.
D) The CPA firm has primary responsibility to the FASB.
B) The CPA firm is engaged and paid by the client, but the primary beneficiaries of the audit are those who rely on the financial statements.
The ________ is a standard of conduct for all members of the AICPA.
A) IESBA Code of Conduct
B) SEC Code of Conduct
C) PCAOB Code of Professional Conduct
D) AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
D) AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
Professionals are expected to conduct themselves at a higher level than most other members of society.
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
Which of the following is(are) true concerning the Ethical Principles of the Code of Professional Conduct?
I. They identify ideal conduct.
II. They are general ideals and are not enforceable.
A) I only
B) II only
C) I and II
D) Neither I nor II
C) I and II
Which of the following is notone of the major parts of the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct?
A) principles
B) rules
C) interpretations
D) definitions
D) definitions
A CPA performs bookkeeping services for a client and then performs an audit of those financial statements. This is an example of a ________ threat.
A) familiarity
B) self-interest
C) self-review
D) management participation
C) self-review
Since the rules cannot address all circumstances, the Codeincludes a conceptual framework approach for members to use to evaluate threats to compliance. Using this framework,
A) the first step is to discuss the threat with the client’s management team.
B) all threats must be completely eliminated.
C) safeguards can be used to eliminate any threat.
D) more than one safeguard may be necessary.
D) more than one safeguard may be necessary.
Which part of the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conductis enforceable?
A) ethical rulings
B) rules of conduct
C) principles
D) interpretations
B) rules of conduct
Interpretations of the rules of conduct
A) are enforceable.
B) are finalized after being approved by the FASB.
C) are issued as exposure drafts to the profession and others for comments.
D) do not apply to members in business.
C) are issued as exposure drafts to the profession and others for comments.
The AICPA’s Code of Professional Conductrequires independence for all
A) attestation engagements.
B) services performed by accountants in public practice.
C) accounting and auditing services performed.
D) professional work performed by CPAs.
A) attestation engagements.
When a member observes the profession’s technical and ethical standards and strives to continually improve her competence and quality of services, she is exercising
A) due care.
B) integrity.
C) independence.
D) objectivity.
A) due care.
Four of the six Ethical Principles in the AICPA’sCode of Professional Conductare equally applicable to all members of the AICPA. Which of the following principles applies only to members in public practice?
A) Scope and Nature of Services
B) Integrity
C) Due Care
D) The Public Interest
A) Scope and Nature of Services
TheCode of Professional Conductis established by the membership of the AICPA, and the Interpretations of the Rules of Conduct are prepared by the
A) Financial Accounting Standards Board.
B) Securities and Exchange Commission.
C) CPA licensing agencies within each state.
D) Professional Ethics Executive Committee of the AICPA.
D) Professional Ethics Executive Committee of the AICPA.
Due to a shortage of personnel, the client asks a member firm to assist with the authorization of accounting transactions. This is an example of which type of threat to compliance with the rules under the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct?
A) management participation
B) self-interest
C) self-review
D) undue influence
A) management participation
The AICPA Code of Conductincludes a conceptual framework approach for the member to evaluate threats to compliance with the Code. List the three steps necessary to evaluate the threats.
- Identify the threats.
- Evaluate the significance of the threat.
- Identify and apply safeguards.
An advantage of specific rules in the Code of Professional Conductis the enforceability of minimum behavior and performance standards.
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
It is a violation of the rules of conduct if someone does something on behalf of a member that is a violation if the member does it.
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
An advantage of the principles of professional conduct in the Code of Professional Conduct is that they are more easily enforced than are the specific rules of conduct.
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
Safeguards can always reduce the threat to an acceptable level.
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
Interpretations of rules of conduct in the Code of Professional Conduct are notofficially enforceable and practitioners need not justify departure from them.
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
Interpretations provide guidelines about the scope and application of the rules, and members must justify any departure in a disciplinary hearing.
Adverse interest is the threat that a member will notact with objectivity because their interests are opposed to the client’s interests.
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
In the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, the second principle of professional conduct, entitled “The Public Interest,” applies only to members of the AICPA in public practice and not to members who work as accountants in business, government, or education.
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
In the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, the sixth principle of professional conduct, entitled “Scope and Nature of Services,” applies to members of the AICPA who work in public practice, business, government, or education.
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
TheConceptual Framework for AICPA Independence Standards can be used when making decisions on ethical matters notexplicitly addressed in the Code.
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
Each state also has rules of conduct that are required for licensing by the state.
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
For which of the following professional services must CPAs be independent?
A) management advisory services
B) audits of financial statements
C) preparation of tax returns
D) all of the above
B) audits of financial statements
“Independence” in auditing means
A) maintaining an indirect financial interest.
B) not being financially dependent on a client.
C) taking an unbiased viewpoint.
D) being an advocate for a client.
C) taking an unbiased viewpoint.
When CPAs are able to maintain their actual independence, it is referred to as independence in
A) conduct.
B) appearance.
C) fact.
D) total.
C) fact.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act ________ a CPA firm from doing both bookkeeping and auditing services for the same public company client.
A) encourages
B) prohibits
C) allows
D) allows on a case-by-case basis
B) prohibits
The financial interests of a CPA’s family members can affect the CPA’s independence. Which of the following parties would notbe included as a “direct financial interest” of the CPA?
A) spouse
B) dependent child
C) relative supported by the CPA
D) sibling living in the same city as the CPA
D) sibling living in the same city as the CPA
Interpretations of the rules regarding independence allow an auditor to serve as
A) a director or officer of an audit client.
B) an underwriter for the sale of a client’s securities.
C) a trustee of a client’s pension fund.
D) an honorary director for a not-for-profit charitable or religious organization.
D) an honorary director for a not-for-profit charitable or religious organization.
Independence is required of a CPA when performing
A) management advisory services.
B) all attestation services.
C) all attestation and tax services.
D) all professional services.
B) all attestation services.
CPAs may provide bookkeeping services to their private company audit clients, but there are a number of conditions that must be met if the auditor is to maintain independence. Which of the following conditions is notnecessary?
A) The CPA must not assume a management role or function.
B) The client must hire an external CPA to approve all of the journal entries prepared by the auditor.
C) The auditor must comply with GAAS when auditing work prepared by his/her firm.
D) The client must accept responsibility for the financial statements.
B) The client must hire an external CPA to approve all of the journal entries prepared by the auditor.
An example of an “indirect financial interest in a client” would be
A) ownership of less than 10% of the client’s stock by the covered members spouse.
B) an ownership of less than 10% of the client’s stock by a staff member who is not involved in the audit.
C) the covered member’s ownership of a mutual fund that has an investment in the client.
D) All of the above are examples of an indirect financial interest in a client.
C) the covered member’s ownership of a mutual fund that has an investment in the client.