With the number of negative, high-profile cases gaining attention in recent years, it is imperative that practitioners be well-versed and clear as to their ethical responsibilities to the public that they serve. This program opens with a discussion of ethical concepts and moral development, and then applies these concepts to ethics in accounting and CPA responsibilities to the public. The next topic discusses the Louisiana Accountancy Act and the Louisiana Board Rules of Conduct. The program then turns to AICPA Standards and Interpretations, before closing with a discussion of PCAOB independence requirements and the applicable Statements on Standards for Tax Services.

This course meets the Louisiana State Board of Accountancy's requirement for licensees in the State of Louisiana to have four hours of ethics in continuing education as a condition of re-licensing every three years.
Use of Materials

Audio or DVD
The user should begin by watching the DVD segment or listening to the audio CD for the chapter before reading the text. The user may wish to make notes of the most important concepts and any terms that are new. Next, the user should review the learning objectives at the beginning of the chapter and read the chapter. The user should work through each of the examples. It may be helpful to highlight important material and/or to make additional notes. Next, the user should complete the study questions at the end of the chapter and review the answers. If the user answers a study question incorrectly, s/he should review the section of the text that is indicated at the end of the explanation to the study question to assure comprehension of the material. The user should review the learning objectives once more to consider achievement of the objectives. After the user has finished watching the DVD or listening to the audio CDs and reading the text and working through the study questions, s/he may wish to review her/his notes and any sections of the text or DVD or audio CDs that were difficult. When the user is ready, s/he should complete the quizzer. Reviewing notes periodically will increase retention of the material.

Online
The user should begin by watching the streamed video segment, if any, or listening to the streamed audio segment, if any, for the chapter before reading the text. The user may wish to make notes of the most important concepts and any terms that are new. Next, the user should review the learning objectives at the beginning of the chapter and read the chapter. The user should work through each of the examples. After the user has studied each chapter, s/he should click on the link at the left to complete the interactive study questions. If the user answers a study question incorrectly, s/he should review the section of the text that is indicated at the end of the explanation to the study question to assure comprehension of the material. The user should review the learning objectives once more to consider achievement of the objectives. After the user has finished watching the streamed video, if any, or listening to the streamed audio, if any, and reading the text and working through the study questions, s/he may wish to review her/his notes and any sections of the text or video/audio, if any, that were difficult. When the user is ready, s/he should click on the link to the left to complete the quizzer. The user's CPE certificate will be provided immediately upon successful completion of the quizzer.

Software
The user should begin by reviewing the learning objectives at the beginning of the chapter and read the chapter. The user should work through each of the examples. As the user studies each chapter, s/he should complete the interactive study questions that appear in the lower panel of the screen. If the user answers a study question incorrectly, s/he should review the section of the text that is indicated at the end of the explanation to the study question to assure comprehension of the material. The user should review the learning objectives once more to consider achievement of the objectives. After the user has finished reading the text and working through the study questions, s/he may wish to review her/his notes and any sections of the text that were difficult. When the user is ready, s/he should click on the link at the far left to complete the quizzer. The user should email her/his quizzer statistics using the quizzer submission link in the software and the user's CPE certificate will be mailed to her/him.

Chapter 1 examines different ethical reasoning methods and how they can assist in making ethical decisions.

Chapter 2 describes CPA responsibilities to the public as outlined in the AICPA Principles of Professional Conduct.

Chapter 3 discusses the Louisiana Accountancy Act.

Chapter 4 details the rules of conduct Louisiana CPAs must be in compliance with.

Chapter 5 examines the independence standards that exist in the AICPA Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as the integrity and objectivity restrictions under the AICPA Code.

Chapter 6 covers additional AICPA ethics rules related to other responsibilities and practices.

Chapter 7 examines PCAOB rules related to auditor independence as well as Statements on Standards for Tax Services and CPA compliance when practitioners are performing tax engagements.

The Appendix contains the Bibliography.

Throughout this program, the user will find explanations and discussions regarding some of the issues that often face practitioners. In order to enhance the user's comprehension of the material and highlight important practical considerations, this program includes the following designations:

A Biskalert is intended to warn the practitioner of a particular situation that may require action or other consideration by the client or the practitioner on behalf of the client.

A Biskplan offers a strategy/discussion point when a practitioner is faced with a particular issue or situation.

A Biskpoint presents analysis or commentary that attempts to explain or clarify authoritative guidance.

A Bisktip provides practical advice that may be used to help improve client service or service to the practitioner's organization.

• Demonstrate how philosophical reasoning methods can assist in making ethical decisions

• Discuss how business entities have made mistakes in decision making by ignoring ethical reasoning considerations

• Discuss how and why regulation of accounting has changed over time and the role of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

• Describe what is meant by the public interest obligation of accountants and auditors

• Discuss how the Principles of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct provide guidance in the performance of professional responsibilities

• Describe what it means to have an ethical dilemma in accounting and how to deal with such issues in an ethical manner

• Explain the circumstances under which a CPA firm may contain nonlicensee owners, or use the title "certified public accountant" or "CPA"

• Identify when a licensee or licensed firm must undergo a peer review

• Discuss when a CPA or CPA firm can accept or pay a commission, referral fee, or contingent fee for services performed for a client

• Explain the registration, renewal, and reinstatement requirements, including the granting of practice privileges under the substantial equivalency requirements

• Discuss the requirements for independence, integrity, and objectivity in the performance of professional services

• Evaluate responsibilities to clients, including maintaining confidential client information and furnishing records to clients

• Explain other responsibilities and practices, including acceptable forms of advertising, solicitation, and other public communications

• Identify when threats to independence may impair independence in the performance of professional services

• Explain when relationships between a CPA and a CPA's immediate family and close relatives might impair independence, and when independence may be impaired when performing nonattest services for an attest client

• Understand the ethical obligations of a CPA to a client when using a third-party service provider to assist in providing professional services

• Identify a CPA's ethical responsibilities when rendering an opinion on the client's financial statements

• Determine when client provided records and other supporting information should be turned over to the client

• Recognize the importance of other ethical responsibilities including permissible advertising and solicitation practices, the acceptance of commissions, contingent fees, and referral fees, and the form and name of organization used to practice public accounting

• Discuss how tax standards under Statements on Standards for Tax Services provide guidance to CPAs when engaged in tax planning services

• Identify when the provision of tax services impairs auditor independence under PCAOB rules

• Discuss when audit committee pre-approval is required before providing professional services to an audit client