Ethical and Legal Standards for CPAs

Description

Professional ethics are a cornerstone of the CPA profession. The public expects that you will know and understand all of the ethical and legal standards that apply to accountancy, and keeping informed is an increasingly complex order. Plus, unfamiliarity with ethical and legal standards can expose you to risk for a breach in compliance or even malpractice. Know the standards. This course will provide you with practical guidance on ethical and legal standards that apply to you on a daily basis.

A portion of this class is designed to meet the California Board of Accountancy's 2-hour Regulatory review course requirement, as well as the 4-hour ethics requirement. During this section of the course you will review—specific to the practice of public accountancy in California—the current California Accountancy Act and CBA regulations, as well as historic and recent disciplinary actions taken by the CBA—including highlights of the misconduct that led to licensees being disciplined.

Highlights

• The California Business and Professions Code
• AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
• California case law involving the practice of accounting
• National trends in case law involving CPAs
• Duties in tax practice under IRS Circular 230
• Duties of accounting professionals under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• Professional duties when fraud is discovered
• Current California Accountancy Act, specific to the practice of public accountancy in California
• California Accountancy Act Articles 1.5, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 6.5 and 7
• Current California Board of Accountancy regulations specific to the practice of public accountancy in California
• Accountancy Regulations Articles 1, 9, 12, 12.5 and 13
• Historic and recent CBA disciplinary actions, including highlights of the misconduct that led to licensees being disciplined

Objectives

• Obtain a pragmatic understanding of ethical and legal standards for CPAs.
• Learn how to avoid common areas of accounting malpractice as illustrated by California case law.
• Familiarize yourself with emerging national trends in litigation involving the accounting profession.
• Review the current California Accountancy Act, its articles and the current California Board of Accountancy regulations.
• Review historic and recent CBA disciplinary actions, including highlights of misconduct.

Designed For

CPAs in public practice, industry and governmental agencies.