Course Description

In a competitive market, every company is looking for any way to differentiate themselves from their competition. While we often look to new markets and data for a competitive advantage, ethics can be the factor that makes the biggest difference to customers, employees, and the public at large. Using surveys, research, case studies, and examples, this course will explore why the CPA credential and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct is so different. We will discuss why CPAs are in a unique position of trust and how this can put their companies ahead.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the relationship between financial success and ethics

  • Identify the characteristics that make the CPA credential unique compared to other financial designations

  • Compare and contrast the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct to the ethics codes of other financial professionals

  • State the steps in the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Conceptual Framework Approach Describe the key issues currently being addressed by the AICPA Professional Ethics Executive Committee

  • State the key factors that influence employee behavior according to research

  • Identify the key factors of ethical communication that increase trust

  • Describe how the concept of ethical communication can be applied within the context of a difficult conversation

Additional Required Materials

  • Level: Basic

  • Field of Study: Behavioral Ethics

  • Who Should Attend: Any CPA who faces ethical dilemmas in their day-to-day experiences

  • Required Knowledge: Knowledge of common business practices and general business ethics

  • Advanced Prep: None

Instructor

CPA, CPCU, MST, MBA David Peters

David Peters is the Founder and Owner of Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting in Richmond, VA. He has over fourteen years of experience in financial services, including 3 years in the hedge fund industry and six years in the insurance industry. David was the first-ever Chief Financial Officer at Compare.com - a position he held for over three years. He is a national CPE Instructor/Discussion Leader for the AICPA, Surgent, and Kaplan. He regularly teaches courses in accounting, finance, insurance, and ethics throughout the United States. He holds four Masters degrees and contributes regularly to various CPA publications, including NCACPA’s Interim Report, SCACPA’s CPA Report, and VSCPA’s Disclosures. He was also a co-author of the 2018 Virginia CPA Ethics course – a required course for all CPA’s licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.