Analysis and professional communication - Ethical evaluation...

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will be able to assess the ethical acceptability of financial reporting treatments for ACCA SBR. You will identify and apply the ACCA Code of Ethics’ five fundamental principles, recognise ethical threats, structure your ethical decision-making, and communicate professional judgments effectively. You will be able to recommend appropriate actions in common ethical dilemmas and explain the consequences of unethical reporting.

ACCA Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) Syllabus

For ACCA Strategic Business Reporting (SBR), you are required to understand how ethical principles apply to financial reporting and to evaluate ethical dilemmas in corporate reporting. Focus your revision on the following syllabus areas:

• The importance of ethical and professional behaviour in complying with accounting standards and corporate reporting requirements
• The consequences of unethical behaviour in the preparation of reports
• Applying and communicating the ACCA Code of Ethics to financial reporting treatments
• Identifying and addressing ethical threats in reporting judgements
• Recommending and justifying appropriate responses to ethical scenarios as presented in exam questions

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. Which of the following is NOT a fundamental principle in the ACCA Code of Ethics?
   1. Integrity
   2. Objectivity
   3. Professional Behaviour
   4. Prudence

2. A finance manager is instructed by the CFO to delay expense recognition to inflate profits. What ethical threats arise, and what would be your recommended response?

3. True or false? It is sufficient in ACCA SBR exam questions simply to state "apply the Code of Ethics" when an ethical issue arises.

4. List the structured steps you should follow to evaluate the ethical acceptability of a proposed reporting treatment according to ACCA guidance.

Introduction

Ethics is a core requirement for all professional accountants preparing financial reports. While technical compliance with accounting standards is essential, ethical principles guide which policies and judgments are appropriate. Accountants regularly face pressure to select treatments that benefit particular stakeholders, sometimes conflicting with duties to the public and users. The ACCA Code of Ethics provides a framework for identifying, evaluating, and responding to ethical threats—a skill tested explicitly in the SBR exam and required for practice.

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN REPORTING

Accountants must comply with five fundamental principles established by the ACCA Code of Ethics and Conduct:

• Integrity: Being honest and straightforward.
• Objectivity: Remaining free from bias, conflict of interest, or undue influence.
• Professional Competence and Due Care: Maintaining up-to-date technical knowledge and acting diligently.
• Confidentiality: Respecting confidential information obtained as a result of professional and business relationships.
• Professional Behaviour: Complying with relevant laws and avoiding behaviour that discredits the profession.

Key Term: Integrity
To act honestly, openly, and without deception in all professional and business relationships.

Key Term: Objectivity
To avoid bias, conflicts of interest, or the undue influence of others on your professional judgments.

Key Term: Professional Competence and Due Care
To maintain professional knowledge and skills and act diligently according to technical and professional standards.

Key Term: Confidentiality
To respect sensitive information acquired and not disclose it without proper or legal authority.

Key Term: Professional Behaviour
To comply with laws and regulations and avoid conduct that brings the profession into disrepute.

IDENTIFYING AND RESPONDING TO ETHICAL THREATS

Threats to ethical conduct often arise in corporate reporting environments. Typical threats include:

• Self-interest threat: Personal interest (e.g., bonus, job security) conflicting with professional judgment.
• Self-review threat: Reviewing your own previous work, risking a lack of objectivity.
• Familiarity threat: Becoming too sympathetic to colleagues or clients.
• Intimidation threat: Pressure from management or others to make, or avoid, certain decisions.
• Advocacy threat: Acting as an advocate for a client or employer to an extent that compromises objectivity.

Key Term: Ethical Threat
Any circumstance that may compromise compliance with the ACCA's fundamental ethical principles.

When a threat is significant, you must consider whether existing or new safeguards will eliminate or reduce it to an acceptable level—for instance, seeking advice, escalating concerns, or declining the assignment.

Worked Example 1.1

Scenario: You are instructed by the finance director to reclassify a short-term loan as a non-current liability to present stronger liquidity before a credit renegotiation. The loan is due for repayment in six months.

Required: Evaluate the ethical issues and outline an appropriate response.

Answer:
Changing classification in this case would breach integrity and objectivity, as it deliberately misleads users. You face an intimidation threat from management. The correct action is to refuse the inappropriate treatment, document the issue, and escalate to a higher authority (such as an audit committee). If unresolved, consider resigning or reporting to a regulator.

ETHICAL EVALUATION OF REPORTING TREATMENTS

Often, the accounting standards require the application of professional judgment, which opens the possibility of bias or wrongdoing. A structured approach is required for ethical evaluation:

1. Identify affected fundamental principles.
2. Recognise and explain specific threats to compliance (state exactly what type: self-interest, intimidation, etc.).
3. Consider who is affected—users, management, regulators, and other stakeholders.
4. Apply professional skepticism—question information critically, seek supporting evidence, and do not accept explanations without enquiry.
5. Evaluate if safeguards exist—such as involvement of independent experts or communication to those charged with governance.
6. Decide and recommend a course of action—clearly state what should be done and why.
7. Document and communicate your rationale—explain both the technical and ethical basis for your decision.

Key Term: Professional Skepticism
Maintaining a questioning mindset and critically assessing audit evidence, especially where management assertions affect reporting.

Worked Example 1.2

Scenario: A company's management wishes to capitalise development costs, but the project does not meet all recognition criteria under IAS 38. The finance director says that "everyone else does it," and instructs the accountant to proceed.

Required: Evaluate the ethical issues and recommend an appropriate response.

Answer:
Capitalising costs contrary to criteria is a breach of professional competence and due care, and of faithful representation in financial statements. The argument that "everyone does it" is not a valid justification. There is a self-interest threat if management bonuses or company performance are affected. You should ensure compliance with standards, advise management of the risks, document the discussion, and consider seeking advice from an ethics officer or regulatory body if management persists.

Exam Warning

In SBR exams, you must always refer explicitly to the specific ethical threats and principles involved. Generic references to "the Code of Ethics" will not score full marks.

COMMUNICATING PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENTS

You will often need to justify your reporting decisions to management or those charged with governance, as well as communicate with external stakeholders. Clear, professional communication includes:

• Explaining the relevant accounting treatment and associated ethical principle
• Outlining the risks and consequences if unethical behaviour is not addressed
• Recommending and justifying your actions
• Presenting tailored advice depending on whether you are addressing management, an audit committee, or third parties

Key Term: Professional Judgment
Using relevant knowledge, experience, and ethical standards to make decisions in the public interest in ambiguous or complex situations.

Worked Example 1.3

Scenario: A project manager proposes recognizing revenue for a contract before the performance obligation is satisfied, to boost end-of-year results. The accountant is pressured to concur and is warned that "everyone's job depends on meeting targets."

Required: How should you structure your evaluation and communicate your decision?

Answer:
Identify the relevant principles (integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care). Recognise the self-interest and intimidation threats. Explain that premature revenue recognition contravenes standards and undermines faithful representation. Escalate your concerns as appropriate, advise on the risks of misstatement to both the company and yourself, and if required, contact ACCA for ethics support.

CONSEQUENCES OF UNETHICAL REPORTING

Unethical behaviour may result in:

• Regulatory fines and disciplinary action
• Professional disqualification
• Legal damages or imprisonment
• Loss of reputation—both for the individual and the firm
• Restatement of financial statements and mistrust among users

Revision Tip

Always structure your exam answers:
(1) Identify the specific principle(s), (2) state the threat, (3) explain who/what is affected, (4) recommend and justify action, (5) reference standards and professional codes.

Summary

Ethical evaluation in reporting is essential for protecting the public interest and maintaining trust in the accountancy profession. You have a responsibility not just to apply technical rules but to actively identify, address, and communicate about ethical threats. Unethical actions can have significant professional and personal consequences.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• Identify and apply the ACCA Code of Ethics’ five fundamental principles
• Recognise common ethical threats in financial reporting
• Apply a clear, structured approach to ethical evaluation of reporting treatments
• Communicate ethical and technical reasoning effectively to stakeholders
• Explain the personal and corporate consequences of unethical behaviour

Key Terms and Concepts

• Integrity
• Objectivity
• Professional Competence and Due Care
• Confidentiality
• Professional Behaviour
• Ethical Threat
• Professional Skepticism
• Professional Judgment