INTHEBLACK September 2024 special edition - Flipbook - Page 7
READ
an INTHEBLACK
article on ethical
investment
EXPLORE
policy submissions
from CPA Australia
EXPLORE
CPA Australia’s Policy
& Advocacy tools
and resources
Professional development is key to keeping up to date
and understanding the margins, so is sound self-reflection.
Ask yourself, “Is this my space?”, “Should I help this
long-term client with an area I’m no longer familiar with or
refer them on?”, “Are the fees worth it?” and so on.
4. Is it harder to do the right thing or the wrong thing?
It is much, much harder to do the right thing. It takes a
concerted effort to make sure you are always adhering to
ethical principles, but that is part of being a professional.
What we give in paying attention to ethics, we get back
in professional recognition and career advancement.
5. In your opinion, what is the key ethical issue now?
A huge area of the ethical focus, which involves
numerous members of the policy and advocacy team,
concerns ethical and professional accountability
in the profession, particularly in the tax, audit and
consulting spaces.
We recently made a submission that advocates for
members at the medium and smaller end of town.
We do not want them negatively affected by
over-regulation because of the behaviour of a few
individuals at the top end of town.
Members are already highly regulated, so
any further burden could dissuade people from
continuing with the profession at a time when fewer
people are joining.
We are still waiting for the final report from this
inquiry. It is possible this could have substantial
outcomes for members who work in public practice
and consulting. ●
“When I was teaching at
university, I used to say to my
students, ‘If you think you don’t
face ethical issues in your career,
you’re not paying attention’.”
BELINDA ZOHRAB-MCCONNELL, CPA AUSTRALIA
ETHICS ESSENTIALS intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 7
