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Running head: AICPA PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT 1
Principle III: AICPA Professional Code of Conduct
Joe R. Estrada
Liberty University
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AICPA Professional Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines and principles for licensed
accountants in the United States. The purpose of the code of conduct is to ensure accountants
serve their clients with high levels of integrity, diligence, objectivity, and technical competency
(Trugman, 2016). Other parts that are important in the code of conduct include accountants
acting within the public interest, obtaining sufficient relevant standards, impartiality,
independence, and standards of due care. Integrity is an essential ethical attribute as it assures
honesty and truthfulness in the representation of financial records. Principle III of AICPA notes
“to maintain and broaden public confidence; members should perform all professional
responsibilities with the highest sense of integrity” (Tidrick, Bain, Davis, Deis, Smith, &
Prentice, 2017).
The first character of the principle of integrity is trust. According to Apostolou &
Thibadoux (2003), stated by Warren Bennis (1989) “integrity is the basis of trust” (p.234). Trust
is about people believing that an individual will do a particular task the right way. Trust is a
profound attribute as it is a freedom from doubt that one should not break the confidence
bestowed on them. An accountant with integrity can be trusted to truly represent the financial
statements of a particular company. The other attribute associated with integrity is honesty and
candidness. There is a caveat for this principle in the accounting profession that even though the
accountant should be honest; this should be within the limits of client confidentiality. The
principle of integrity in accounting is allowed to accommodate inadvertent error and the honest
difference in opinion (Mintz, 2014), as these are errors not made out of will but honest mistakes.
Integrity in the accounting profession does not allow errors due to deceit or dishonesty. Integrity
entails justice because in the absence of standards and laws or there are conflicting rules, then
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what is just and right carries the day. More importantly, an accountant with integrity should be
objective and independent.
Integrity is one of the core values espoused in the Christian Bible. The real meaning of
integrity is a whole person who is undivided. An undivided person does not change with a
situation but stays firm in their beliefs. Christian Ethics is against relativism where ethics change
according to situations. Non-conflicting absolutism is at the core of Christian ethics as the laws
of God of absolute despite the outcomes. An accountant with integrity will behave in accordance
with morals and ethics despite the temptations. The book of Job from the Bible is an excellent
example of a servant with integrity as his faith to God was undivided even after He swept away
the whole of his property including his family. Job 2:9 states “His wife said to him, “Are you still
maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (NIV), but Job keep his faith, honesty, and
integrity in honoring God, regardless of the outcome. Accountants should behave like job where
the standards of honesty are absolute and not at any moment will the accountant go against it by
becoming corrupt.
Deontological-based ethics are almost similar to Christian ethics as the main point of
departure is the former is non-religious, but the latter is religious. Deontology is a non-
consequentialist theory that focuses on the action rather than the outcomes (Duska, Duska, &
Ragatz, 2011). Accountants are bound by duty to perform their obligations and responsibilities
with integrity despite the outcomes. The theory states that an accountant has to be honest and
ethical in their endeavors and this should not be compromised due to changing situations or any
form of temptation. All accountants are duty-bound to act with integrity in all their undertakings
with clients.
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Biblical Perspective
A few things in business are direct. If one’s performance is excellent and is based on
integrity, then one will be trusted. To acquire trust from others, above all else be truthful, be
honest; because by being truthful will settle one's noteworthiness and makes you a man/woman
that others can trust and pursue. As stated in Titus 2:7-8, “7 in everything set them an example by
doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, 8 and soundness of speech that
cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing
bad to say about us.”
Second, speak the truth in love, genuineness, and ensure what you say is instructive and
accommodating. At the point when each word you speak is honest, empowering, delicately
informative with an instructive gentle tone, you will inspire others to give their earnest attempts
to serve their calling/profession, and the general public viably with integrity. “Sanctify them by
the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17, NIV), and, “an honest witness tells the truth, but a
false witness tells lies” (Proverbs 12:17, NIV).
Conclusion
The principle of integrity is a broad yet essential in the accounting profession. The
accountants are expected to perform all their professional duties with the highest sense of
integrity. This principle conforms to both Christian ethics and deontology-based ethics as it is
both a divine and natural duty for humans, to be honest, candid and undivided in their belief.
References
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Apostolou, B., & Thibadoux, G. M. (2003). Why Integrity Matters. Public Integrity, 5(3), p.
223–237. Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=poh&AN=10775481&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Duska, R., Duska, B., & Ragatz, J. (2011). Accounting ethics (2nd ed.). Malden, MA: Wiley-
Blackwell a John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication.
Mintz, S. (2014). Accounting for the Public Interest: Perspectives on Accountability,
Professionalism and Role in Society. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
Tidrick, D., Bain, C., Davis, C., Deis, D., Smith, P., & Prentice, R. (2017). Wiley CPA excel exam
review 2017 study guide: Auditing and Attestation. John Wiley & Sons.
Trugman. (2016). Understanding Business Valuation: A Practical Guide To Valuing Small To
Medium Sized Businesses, Fourth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
