Ethics In The AICPA Code Of Professional Ethics

Benevolence instructs the accountant to serve in the best interest of the public. It is described as the extent to which a trusty will want to do good to the trustor aside from an egocentric profit motive (Power Point Presentation 7, n.d.). From a utilitarian perspective, some actions may not be deemed worth the effort when there is a lack of profit to be obtained from the action. The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct is set up to establish professional norms and standards that discourages this type of behavior.
Lastly, integrity comes down to taking the correct action when no one is around to monitor the behavior. Personal views can cloud an individual’s decision making process by looking to obtain dishonest gains through deceitful actions.
Proverbs 10:9 states: “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall” (New Living Translation).” This Scripture suggests that individuals who do not walk in integrity follow “crooked paths.” They walk in ways that are not morally sound, pure, and honest—but in ways that are corrupt. Clients want accountants with integrity. Thus, integrity is critical to the public trust. As a matter of fact, one of the general definitions of integrity provided by the AICPA Code is that it is a quality from which the public trust derives. Also, it is an element of character fundamental to professional recognition, and it requires members to be (among other things) honest and candid within the constraints of confidentiality (Duska, Duska & Ragatz, 2011). Integrity in the accounting profession involves adhering to the rules and principles of the profession. This includes remaining free of conflicts of interest and maintaining client relationships in which the accountant can remain objective in discharging his or her responsibilities. This requires independence in fact and in appearance as mandated under section 1.200.001.01, Independence Rule the AICPA Code. In other words, no one should be able to view the accountant as being biased with respect to a client’s financial reporting due to an improper client relationship. Lack of integrity in accounting practices has been, and continues to be, a key element in the downfall of many institutions which has hurt the public trust in the accounting