As an accountant, you are going to come face-to-face with plenty of ethical issues. Deciding whether someone’s business practices and their actions are ethical is something that can be fairly difficult, but holding ethical standards is a vital part of your job. Many people in the accounting and banking industry often find it hard to recognize a serious ethical problem. It is not that they are unethical people, but frequently they are simply aware that an ethical problem is presenting itself. Nearly everything that you do in your line of work has an ethical side of things.
You hold a very important role in each customers and companys life . Accountants play a key part in keeping the integrity and credibility of their clients. Accountant must be not only competent at his job like every other worker, but he must hold the knowledge and experience to keep his professionalism, even at the most difficult times.
Keeping your clients integrity means that you have to communicate deeply to avoid all problems, and make sure that everyone knows what is going on with their own finances. Sometimes people forget that confidentiality is the strength of any professional accountant, and it can be hard. You must keep your clients information completely confidential unless the other party has a legal right to view it. It can be uncomfortable to face that sort of pressure.
I do not think I am going to face any ethical issues? You might think. I know what I would do if I were faced with a hard choice. Think again, because as an accountant, you are going to face countless issues that require you to be clear headed and of sound judgment. More people then you think attempt to take the unethical route, and lie to their company.
For example, going through the records of your firm, you stumble on a huge discovery , a coworker is withholding money from the firm, and has been for a while. How do you approach this situation? Do you talk with the firm? The coworker? This is obviously unethical, but how to proceed?
The most likely solution is to follow your own firms policy to resolve the issue. Every firm has some sort of ethical guidelines that state how to react and treat a situation like this. Maintaining a professional and ethical business practice should be the firms main priority.
If for some reason your firm does not have a policy that dictates how you should treat this situation, your responsibility is to go to your manager. If you feel that he is also part of the issue, then you need to go to the next level of management.
When trying to work with these ethical issues and resolve them, you as an accountant and an employee of a firm must understand your businesses strategies, and motivations. If you are worried that you yourself may be at risk for some sort of ethical dilemma, then the best option is to call your personal attorney. He can assist you in looking at your options, and with your best interest guide you towards a good result.
If you feel that you cannot work with your firm anymore due to ethical conflicts, do not feel bad giving notice for that reason and leaving. If the situation is pressing, or if the concerns are high enough, this is a very valid response.
Remember that it is your duty as an accountant to withhold the integrity of not only your clients business practices, but your own. Many people are not as morally sound as idealists would like to believe, and where money is concerned, there will always be someone trying to outsmart you.