Aguilar 1
Mario Aguilar
Professor William Harkey
English 3430
14 July 2013
Ethics in the Field of Accounting
Ethics can be defined as a set of moral principles or a set of moral characteristics an
individual or group of individuals display. Ethics can also be defined as doing what is right when
no one is looking. In corporate America many unethical scandals have occurred causing a
continuation of ethical importance within Accounting and an importance of teaching ethics
through education or family culture. Many current and new students pursuing a career in
accounting may not be aware of the consequences with unethical decision making.
Consequences of unethical decision making do not only impact the person committing the
violations it affects individual’s fiancés, global markets, and legislative decisions.
People resolve situations differently but the importance of making ethical decisions will
have a positive long term affect over situations. For instance, outside of the workplace people
make important ethical decisions that will best suit their lifestyle. It is important to most people
to make the correct decision to better their future whether it is in their career, financially, or
family interest. These important decisions being made outside of the workplace should also be
applied in the workplace. In accounting the importance of resolving situations ethically has a
positive impact on several levels. In the journal article Business Ethics: A Set of Practical Tools
written by Joan E. Dubinsky states that, “Ethics focuses on what we ought to do and provides a
framework for weighing right and wrong standards of conduct” (40). In other words, individuals
and institutions must follow the accepted principles of what is defined as right and wrong. This
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also means that individuals and organizations must develop structures that address workplace
corruption and in the process establish standards and procedures that deal with unethical
behavior, encourage employees to report unethical accounting, train employees on the acceptable
standards, and enforce the rules on a consistent and equal basis. To apply the procedures and
discourage corruption many organizations develop guidelines for employees to follow. In a
journal article Ethics and the Accountants’ Code of Conduct written by Michael Akers and Don
Giacomino points guidelines established by two big accounting firms. “The following are
examples of basic or core values of two Big Six public accounting firms” (88).
Integrity and objectivity in all our relationships, and independence in all our attest
engagement
Strong personal involvement and commitment in our relationships
