This document discusses ethics for professionals. It defines ethics and explains why professionals must discuss ethics. It outlines some key professional values like integrity, objectivity, and commitment to public interest. It also discusses the disciplinary rules professionals must follow and lists fundamental principles of ethics. Finally, it explains threats to ethics and potential safeguards professionals can use.

1. 1
Ethics in our
profession
Module 1
Management Skills
Level One

2. Profession vs. industry 2
• Quiz
– What is the difference between a profession and an industry?
– What are the implications for you as a professional?
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3. What is ethics and why do we need 3
to talk about it
• Quiz
– How would you define “ethics”/ethical behaviour?
– Why do we, as professional people, need to talk about ethics on
this course?
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4. Ethics and its impact 4
• Public confidence in the profession is important.
• We have an ethical obligation which will ensure that a client receives
competent professional service.
• Important note – Ethics in practice should be extended beyond
their inclusion in a Code of professional Conduct.
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5. Professional values 5
• Are defined by SAICA and IRBA as:
– A commitment to act with integrity and objectivity and to be
independent under applicable professional standards.
– Knowledge of the standards of professional ethics (including
the Code of Professional Conduct of both SAICA and IRBA in
particular, and of the broad accounting profession).
– A concern for the public interest and sensitivity to social
responsibilities.
– A commitment to lifelong learning
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6. The Disciplinary Rules 6
• The Disciplinary Rules lists amongst others, actions that constitute
improper conduct.
• Quiz
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7. Fundamental principles of 7
professional ethics
• This framework provides guidance on fundamental ethical principles
and must be applied to:
– Identify, evaluate and address threats to compliance with the
fundamental principles
– Evaluate those threats and determine that any possible risk is
eliminated or reduced to acceptable level
– Determine if appropriate safeguards are available and can be
applied to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable level such
that compliance with the fundamental principles is not
compromised
• Quiz
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8. Threats and safeguards 8
• Quiz
– List and explain the threats per the Code which may arise.
• Safeguards
– Safeguards are created by the profession, legislation or regulation
– In the work environment
• DVD clip – Country practice
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