Ethical Standards In Accounting

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Contents Page Page -Introduction 4 -Why Regulation Was Needed 4 -Reform & Legislation 6 -Have Reforms & Legislation Changed Anything? 7 -What Are Reputable Accounting Firms Doing 10 -Alternative Theories 11 -Conclusion 13 Essay Question “Reforms and legislation are the only means to regain the loss of public trust and re-establish credibility of the accounting profession, following the corporate collapses since 2007.” Do you agree with the above statement? What impact could future reforms and legislation have on the accounting profession? Introduction The accounting profession is seen to be a dynamic, growing and changing profession. It currently continues to play a very valuable role in society and until recently accounting had set the standards for ethical and moral behaviour in business (Guy et al. 2003). Many high profile corporate failures over the recent years (e.g. Enron, HIH, AIG and Satyam) have been associated with large public international accounting firms. Calls for increased transparency and concerns about ethical behaviour ever since the Enron debacle have led to increased regulation over the financial reporting process, with the profession having lost a great deal of its credibility and public trust. Once considered by the public to be highest in integrity among all professions (Paine, cited in Satava et al. 2006, p. 273), the regard that this profession enjoyed has deteriorated in the wake of a succession of high profile scandals (Herron & Gilbertson 2004, p. 499). The loss of credibility has identified that there exists an expectations gap between what the public wants and expects to receive from the profession and from financial statements, versus what auditors are in fact able to deliver and the level of responsibility that auditors are willing to acknowledge for the services they

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