| Ethics and high morality are in high demand today | | | | into another ethics course involved in spotting |
| especially among corporate America, and | | | | frauds and ethical dilemmas while a third course |
| specifically within the accounting profession. After | | | | could focus on answering these ethical |
| the ethical failures of Enron and WorldCom, a | | | | uncertainties. |
| public outcry for future preventative measures | | | | The need for an accounting ethics course is also |
| resonated throughout the American Institute of | | | | very apparent in how much destructive attention |
| Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the | | | | financial catastrophes attract to the profession. |
| accounting community at large. Consequently, the | | | | The recent big company accounting scandals all |
| Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the | | | | brought negative publicity to the accounting field. |
| overseeing government board of the AICPA, | | | | The burden of the economic failures in |
| released the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, | | | | today’s society must be placed somewhere, |
| otherwise known as SOX. The act requires a | | | | and many people look at accountants as an outlet |
| higher performance standard for accounting firms | | | | to place that burden. All of these events from big |
| and the audits they perform to prevent future | | | | companies provide a negative perception of the |
| accounting scandals. SOX, which has been | | | | accounting field, and that’s not to mention the |
| extremely beneficial, doesn’t change the | | | | small business owners who have encountered |
| ethical standards of an individual but instead takes | | | | other accounting mistakes or unethical |
| away most of the opportunity to commit a | | | | occurrences. This is not to say that legitimate and |
| scandalous act. The basic character of the | | | | honest mistakes will not be made by new |
| fraudulent individual remains corrupt, even with | | | | students, but the ability to recognize the mistakes |
| legislation in place. The question is then posed: Can | | | | and evaluate ethical problems can be reduced with |
| ethics be taught, and if so, what accounting or | | | | the addition of an ethics course. The more |
| business ethics courses are available? The answer | | | | education and experience that new accountants |
| is not ironclad as the word ethics describes the | | | | have and acquire the fewer mistakes that will |
| morality of an individual, which is hard to measure. | | | | occur, and ultimately the less negative publicity |
| There are also very limited courses offered on | | | | the profession will receive. It is extremely |
| ethics, however ethical education should be a | | | | important that in the accounting profession, clients |
| required course in college and a prerequisite to | | | | feel secure and trusting of those who they |
| new employment for all accounting firms. | | | | employ. |
| Most higher education institutions, and some high | | | | Another need for an ethics course comes from a |
| school level institutions, are implementing brief | | | | common stereotype of accountants. The |
| ethical materials into their curriculum, but very | | | | stereotype is that accountants are known to |
| few offer courses on the subject. The basic | | | | simply follow the rules, or do just enough to meet |
| argument against incorporating a required | | | | the basic criteria. To correct ethical dilemmas, it is |
| accounting ethics course is that there isn’t | | | | required to go above and beyond the norm to |
| any proof that individuals who take a course | | | | investigate and solve uncertainties. A class in the |
| would be any more ethical than they already are. | | | | area of ethics could help prepare and motivate |
| If this is truly the singular obstruction to imposing | | | | new accountants to become more proactive |
| an accounting course in ethics, than why | | | | when evaluating a possible unethical or fraudulent |
| aren’t other courses in the curriculum subject | | | | scenario. Clients will feel a greater sense of |
| to examination from proof. Many audits, | | | | security with a proactive accountant, and |
| specifically those at Enron and WorldCom, have | | | | ultimately bring more profit to the profession. |
| failed because of poor functional accounting | | | | Society can not function without ethical people. |
| knowledge, not just ethical queries. Most other | | | | The business world and accounting profession can |
| curricular accounting courses would fail a proof | | | | not function without ethical people. It is for this |
| assessment required by those who oppose an | | | | reason that an accounting ethics course or |
| accounting ethics course. It is necessary to have | | | | courses are imperative. The elimination of |
| an accounting ethics course to properly prepare | | | | stereotypes, fewer mistakes, and a heightened |
| students for any future ethical temptation they | | | | sense of awareness is exactly what could be |
| may experience within the field. Without | | | | acquired from an accounting ethics course. It is |
| experience in fraud recognition or ethical | | | | important to add ethics courses immediately, and |
| righteousness, many new timid accountants are | | | | for employers to require that their new hire’s |
| susceptible to fraud or ethical dilemmas. A | | | | be educated in ethics knowledge. If an employee |
| recommendation would be to add not just one | | | | is not educated and courses are not offered, |
| course on ethics into a curriculum, but possibly | | | | employers should take measures to offer a |
| three or four. A course in ethical theory could tie | | | | mandatory ethics course within their organization. |