AICPA Code of Conduct

In this post, I provide information about accessing the AICPA Code of Conduct and the Plain English Guide to Independence.

Are you a CPA looking for answers to independence or other ethical questions? Below, you’ll see two handy AICPA resources:

• AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
• Plain English Guide to Independence

AICPA Code of Professional Conduct

The AICPA provides online access to the Code of Conduct. You can also download a PDF copy here (this PDF covers all standards issued through August 31, 2016).

Online access is free, and users are able to save searches and bookmark content.

The Code is organized into three parts:

1. Public practice
2. Members in Business
3. All other members (including those who are in between jobs or retired)

The Code includes a threats and safeguards framework. CPAs should identify threats and then consider safeguards to mitigate those threats. The CPAs can proceed with the engagement if threats–after considering safeguards–are at an acceptance level.

Plain English Guide to Independence

As the Quality Control partner for our firm, I receive quite a few questions about ethical issues (mainly about independence). Nine out of ten times I find the answers to those questions in the AICPA’s Plain English Guide to Independence. I download this guide and keep it handy. When I need to research an issue, I open the document and perform word searches. If you aren’t already using this resource, I highly recommend it. 

See my article CPA’s Ethics: Four Questions for Better Decisions.