Accounting And Ethics

In a world where meeting the bottom line has become so important, the relevance of ethics has diminished and has taken a back seat in the business world especially in the accounting practice. This is evidenced by the numerous corporate accounting scandals in the recent years. Amidst these scandals, it is ever more important to place more emphasis on ethics in conducting business.

Ethics is important as it binds company and its constituents to do what is right. It produces honest workers and good work that are so vital to the success and longevity of a company. With respect to accounting practice, being bound with ethics should be foremost. Accountants in doing their work should comply with requirements and regulations; thereby avoiding lawsuits that can be very costly. Accountants have a huge responsibility of communicating accurate and reliable information for it is one of the first things that investors look at. When constant scandals happen in reporting profits and other financial information, consumers lose their confidence and trust; therefore, resulting in low investments. Without investments, the economy would be weak.

In accounting practice, accountants do not only deal with entities, ultimately, they are dealing with people. Accountants should treat others fairly and with integrity. They should not engage in dishonest acts and unlawful practices with the promise of a promotion or some monetary reward. If a person is not bound by ethics, he or she will not have the courage or the resolve to do the right thing.