Ethics for Massachusetts (Currently Unavailable)

Author: Jae K. Shim

This is an ethics course for Massachusetts covering standards of professional conduct and business practices adhered to by accountants such as CPAs in order to enhance their profession and maximize idealism, justice and fairness when dealing with the public, clients and other members of their profession.

It also presents an approach --the threats and safeguards approach —to coping with ethical dilemmas. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and its impact on business ethics, new internal control requirements, and the CPA's responsibilities are summarized. Also included are some cases of AICPA ethics violations.

Publication Date: April 2015

Topics Covered

• Ethical Reasoning and Accountants
• Ethical Dilemmas in Accounting
• AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct
• Summaries of the Six Principles and Eleven Rules
• Conceptual Framework — Threats and Safeguards Approach
• Case Studies of AICPA Ethics Violations
• Corporate Responsibility Law (Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
• Massachusetts (Rules and Regulations Governing Public Accountants and Firms)

Learning Objectives

• Identify the characteristics of ethics.
• Recognize ethical reasoning used by accountants.
• Differentiate between rulings and principles of the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct.
• Identify the six principles and list the eleven rules of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.
• Recognize ethics rulings on independence.
• Identify ethical dilemmas faced by CPAs.
• Recognize the key features of corporate responsibility law (Sarbanes-Oxley act) that influence auditor independence.
• Identify consulting services prohibited by the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002.
• Identify the requirements of accountants as highlighted in the Massachusetts Rules of the Board of Accountancy.

Level
Overview

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Regulatory Ethics (4 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None