Professional conduct and ethical behavior are really the backbone of the entire accounting and auditing profession. These components form the foundation upon which our creditability with the general public is built, without which, there is no profession. Whether you are a practitioner in public accounting or business and industry, you must always act in accordance with the requirements that define professional conduct and ethical behavior. This course meets the requirement that Louisiana license holders must complete three continuing education credits as part of their annual reporting requirement covering the applications of professional standards and responsibilities. This course discusses common ethical frameworks relevant to the practice of public accountancy, provides a detailed review of the ethical requirements for Certified Public Accountants as found in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Code of Professional Conduct (Code), and discusses the major provisions of Louisiana’s Professional and Occupational Standards governing the practice of certified public accountants in the state of Louisiana. Through case studies and other examples, the course will highlight pertinent LA rules as well as compare and contrast these rules to those of other regulatory agencies, such as the AICPA, GAO, PCAOB, and SEC. The course will further address the similarities and differences between the Code requirements for CPAs in public accounting and industry, including the threats to independence inherent in both. The course will also cover the implications of the recently proposed and effective independence interpretations, including those related to a CPA’s responsibility to address and report on known or suspected noncompliance with laws and regulations.

The primary objectives of this course are to educate CPAs regarding ethics and ethical behavior; review, emphasize, and convey the intent of ethical standards and responsibilities relating to a CPA’s performance of professional accounting services; and help CPAs apply ethical judgment in the context of the public interest through the use of illustrative case studies.