The American Institute Of Certified Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (AICPA)

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Accounting professionals must abide by ethical standards that regulate what kind of business they conduct, who they serve and how they use their skills. Professional accounting and finance organizations are largely responsible for determining ethical standards. We will discuss some of the key organizations and ethical standards the accounting professional must comply with to uphold themselves as a reputable accountant. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) plays a major role in the governing of the behavior of Certified Public Accountants (CPA). The AICPA is the largest professional organization for CPA’s in the United States. Its wide range of influence on CPA’s give it a vast amount of authority in guiding their performance and their commitment to ethics. The mission of the AICPA is “to provide members with the resources, information and leadership that enable them to provide valuable services in the highest professional manner to benefit the public, employers and clients” (1995). In addition to guidance in theories and standards, ethics is a crucial part of what’s necessary to properly serve the public. The AICPA requires adherence to a …show more content…

After a few major oversights in accounting, the government felt that the profession was no longer capable of handling this on its own and that newer actions were needed. The board is controlled by the SEC, and is responsible for the setting the standards and overseeing the auditors of public companies. Its other roles include enforcing the registration and inspections of public accounting firms, quality control, establishing independence standards and rules, as well as investigating and disciplining firms involved in questionable practices. With the passing of Sarbanes-Oxley in 2002, the PCAOB became the major public accounting governing