The Need for Ethics CPE for CPAs
It’s a tough assessment, but that’s most likely for the best since an eternity of continuing specialized education awaits the publicly certified accountant.
Known as CPE for CPAs, these courses ensure that bean-counters stay on top of the newest changes in the law so that last year’s legal loopholes are used if only still applicable!
But technical matters are not the only concern of such courses.
A big part of modern CPE for CPAs is ethics.
Yes, that’s right – plain old right and wrong!
Somewhere along the line it’s been overlooked in a major way, ethics.
Then again, unethical dealings have been part and parcel of the occupation ever since the Middle Ages, when its Italian founder noted common accounting scams already prevalent even back then!
All the same, ethics CPE for CPAs is surely a good thing – specifically for course authors!
For they are more likely to ever run out of fascinating topics to discuss.
Many a former white-collar lawbreaker still shakes his head at the lax practices still so prevalent in the industry, almost assuring another round of scandal, scandal such as what had brought them down once.
Take the case of Sammy Antar of Crazy Eddie’s fame.
A CPA and former CFO of his cousin’s legendary retail electronics business, Sam now rails against accounting fraud of the sort which he used to practice for well over a decade.
The truth is, he is now a speaker who gives classes on how to catch white-collar criminals.
Moreover, folks can actually earn CPE and CLE credits for attending his talks!
But the very fact that he should still have something to say – something for which audiences still gather to hear – underlines the unfortunate currency of accounting fraud.
Of course, ethics deal with morality and not mere legality.
It may be tough for numbers-crunchers to think in deeply philosophical , but that’s exactly why continuing education is a requirement!