Are Any Kind Of Ethics Involved In Accounting?
“The best way out for an accountant is to go by the rules and regulations of the business for which he is providing his services. The accountant also has to keep in mind that any step taken by him can damage the reputation of the company.”
Many a time an accountant faces situations when he feels like dangling between what is right and what is wrong from the professional point of view. Accountants are very hard working people and are committed to their clients as far as the credibility and confidentiality of the job under question is concerned.Unless there is any kind of legal bound, it is considered unethical on part of the accountant to divulge any kind of information related to the company. Similarly, unless the client himself has authorized the accountant to disclose the information, the accountant must keep it strictly confidential.
Even if the information is to be disclosed to some third party (as desired by the client) it should be revealed in a very rational and objective way. The accountant should see to it that there is no kind of clash among different parties because of the information provided by him. This comes under the code of ethics for accountants.
It also happens many times that accountants because of their nature of work come across some kind of embezzlement in the company. They may also spot an employee of a particular company who has adopted or tried to adopt some dishonest means. At such a juncture what is expected of an accountant? Should he straightaway call the police or report the matter to the media?
These are the questions that determine the code of ethics for an accountant. This code is sometimes quite contrary to common sense. The best way out for an accountant is to go by the rules and regulations of the business for which he is providing his services. The accountant also has to keep in mind that any step taken by him can damage the reputation of the company. Thus, he has to be ethical in a strictly professional way.
So, the accountant should not raise any kind of hue and cry but talk to his immediate boss. If, even the boss is involved in some kind of fishy business, the accountant should discuss the matter with the next level of management and even talk directly to the supreme boss in case the things go too much astray.
Author - DeeKay
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