Finance Professionals Play Key Role in Ethics

Source: Journal of Accountancy

A recent AICPA/CIMA survey reveals a gap between rhetoric and reality when it comes to ethical performance. For example, more organizations are developing codes of ethics and statements of ethical values, and using training, hotlines and incentives to encourage ethical behavior. But the number of corporate leaders taking responsibility for ethics has declined and a relatively small number of companies track and manage ethical performance. Finance professionals reported increased pressure to act unethically during economic downturns.

The report concludes that finance employees – including Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMAs) “have a key role in supporting ethical conduct and collecting, reporting, and monitoring ethical information.”

For the complete article, read “Bridging the ethical divide: Survey finds firms lagging.”

From Journal of Accountancy, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, June 2012, http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/Issues/2012/July.