Professional Responsibility and Ethics for Accountants

Accountants perform a wide variety of activities which include, but are not limited to, accounting, auditing, tax, management consulting, and financial management. However, a professional accountant's responsibility is not exclusively to satisfy the needs of an employer or professional services client. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the accounting profession is its acceptance of the responsibility to act in the public interest.

This course will introduce you to professional guidance that enables accountants to uphold the obligation to act in the public interest while meeting their professional responsibilities to employers and clients. You will also learn foundational knowledge of the moral dimensions of business that are helpful for recognizing and interpreting the ethical issues embedded in situations you will encounter in your career. Topics in the course include professional standards, values and norms, ethical theories, theories of a firm and business purpose, and corporate governance.