Canadian Business Ethics - What CPAs Need to Know

This course provides a detailed walkthrough of business ethics in the Canadian context. It contextualizes challenging ethical issues that CPA members and their organizations are facing across the country. Keeping the CPA Code of Conduct in mind, it provides detailed step-by-step guidance on how to deal with unethical situations as an individual and as a business. It also discusses ways to promote and enforce ethical behaviour in the workplace. Case studies are used to contextualize theoretical concepts and frameworks, so that all CPA members feel confident tackling tough situations and cultivating ethical workplace environments. 

*Note that this course is a consolidation of other one-hour ethics courses, and therefore includes content covered in Dealing with Unethical Situations in the Workplace, Preventing Unethical Behaviour in the Workplace and CPA Code of Conduct.


Learning Objectives

  1. Identify the returns on investment from ethical business practices.
  2. Describe the types of ethical situations faced by professional accountants. 
  3. Apply a step-by-step framework to navigate ethical dilemmas. 
  4. Apply a step-by-step framework to make complex business decisions with ethical considerations.
  5. Assess case studies and apply frameworks to identify the best possible course of action.
  6. Identify high risk behaviours of employees that may indicate underlying ethical issues.
  7. Identify indicators of widespread ethical misconduct in an organization.
  8. Assess an organization’s strengths and weaknesses using an ethics risk analysis.
  9. Describe how to implement accounting-specific and organization-wide safeguards.
  10. Examine the structure, contents and enforcement of the CPA Code of Conduct.
  11. Describe the type of corporate culture, tone at the top and leadership required to instill ethical values and business practices into the workplace.

Topics Covered

  • Return on investment of ethical behaviour
  • Role of the Professional Accountant in a capitalistic society
  • Ethical issues in the accounting profession
  • Structure and contents of CPA Code of Conduct
  • Ethical decision-making framework
  • Pitfalls of complex decision-making with ethical considerations
  • Case studies
  • Threats to ethical behaviour
  • Ethics risk analysis
  • High risk behaviours and danger phrases
  • Accounting-specific and organization-wide ethical safeguards 
  • Corporate culture, tone at the top and ethical leadership


What's included in the course price?

  • 4 hours of verifiable ethics PD
  • Certificate of completion
  • Access to course materials 24/7


What others have said about this course

  • Great course and great examples to help me understand the ethical issues in accounting and business and how to deal with them.

  • Mr. Mathur, I just took your course today. I wanted to let you know that I, like many other CPAs I imagine, took your course to fulfill my ethics course obligations. I was not necessarily looking forward to it, nor was I opposed to it. However, let me say that after taking your course I can honestly say it was the most informative, perspective setting, relevant and transferable course I have taken. It was clear and concise with thought provoking and valuable information. While I have always considered myself as ethical it provided a framework for implementing that thought process into my professional life. Anyway, just felt compelled to share my thoughts. Thank you again and I will be sure to recommend this course to my coworkers.

Instructor

Founder and Lead Instructor, UltimQuest Knowledge Inc.

Arun K. Mathur, FCPA, FCA, LPA

Arun is Partner at Gerald Duthie & Co. LLP, where he provides professional services to a diverse group of clients. Arun is also Owner and Lead Instructor at UltimQuest Knowledge Inc. He has been delivering corporate training on improving governance, ethics, internal control, performance measurement and related topics. He provides live and online training through CPA bodies across Canada and Bermuda. Arun served for several years on the Board for HealthForce Ontario Marketing and Recruitment Agency, and was also Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee there and for the Trillium Gift of Life Network. He has served on the CMA Ontario's Review Committee prior to the merger.

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