Maintaining ethics has never been more important and
necessary for accounting professionals. With increasing pressure and limited
time, a declining economy and no shortage of other factors that might
compromise our fundamental principles, it is crucial to ensure that ethical
standards are upheld.

This lesson aims to provide insight into professional
ethics, focusing on the practical application of the Codes of Ethics that apply
to the professional accountant, resting on the fact that ethics is a journey
rather than a checklist, and aims to enable professionals to assess and address
ethical dilemmas in an efficient manner.

DISCLAIMER: THIS LESSON IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE FULL
SATISFACTION OF ALL THE IRBA AND SAICA CPD REQUIREMENTS ON ETHICS ACTIVITIES,
BUT SERVES AS A METHOD TO ADDRESS DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS AND SUPPLEMENT CPD
ACTIVITIES.

MEMBERS ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE
PERFORMED THE RELEVANT SELF-ASSESSMENTS AND REFLECTION ACTIVITIES REQUIRED IN
TERMS OF THE CPD POLICIES OF THESE REGULATORY BODIES.

THIS LESSON IS ALSO NOT SUITABLE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE
C9 COMPULSORY ETHICS FOR SAICA TRAINEES - PLEASE REFER TO THE SEPARATE
PROGRAMME THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THIS ON THE MY SKILLS PORTAL.

• Linking the importance of personal and business ethics to
  that professional ethics, including the various difficulties that may be
  associated with these elements of ethics.
• All the relevant requirements from the IESBA (and aligned
  with it, IRBA and SAICA) Code of Ethics applicable to the accounting
  profession, including:
• A practical approach to capturing the essence of the
  principles on which our professional ethics is founded, the framework that
  enables us to apply it, and the process of identifying and addressing threats
  to ethical principles.
• Specific coverage on each of the threat indicators from
  Parts 3 and 4 of the IESBA Code of Ethics, and how to address them.
• The expectations placed upon the professional accountant in
  response to NOCLAR.
• An overview of the ISQC 1 and 2 requirements on ethics and
  independence as part of the firm's quality control process.
• Brief coverage of the considerations from the Code for
  auditors when also rendering non-assurance services.
• A practical discussion of the most common areas prone to
  unethical behaviour in practice and how to caution against rationalisations and
  justifications.

This course is aimed specifically at IRBA members, auditors
and audit teams, quality control reviewers and other accounting professionals
rendering assurance services.