UltimQuest

In our polling of CPAs across Canada, anywhere from 20% to 40% of participants say they have been asked to do something they considered unethical. This is no longer surprising or alarming to us.

Confronting or disagreeing with clients and bosses is an uncomfortable situation for all of us. It can come with the risk of losing your job or your client revenue. It can cause a lot of anxiety.

It requires a lot of courage, and you must think about how to communicate effectively.

Based on our years of corporate training on and , we're sharing some ideas here on how go about confronting your clients or seniors on an ethical matter:

➡️Determine the ethical issue at hand and what exactly makes you uncomfortable.

➡️Gather background information and facts. Think about your organization's values, goals, policies and procedures. Identify the negative consequences that will result from taking an unethical route.

➡️Think about mentors who can help guide you, or allies who might share your concerns. Keep confidentiality and your Code of Conduct in mind.

➡️Prepare your information in a logical manner. Think about how the other person will respond to your observations and your concerns.

➡️Rehearse what you will say. This will boost your confidence
and help with selecting the best words to convey your concerns. Anticipate your client or boss's response to you.

➡️Present your case in an independent, impartial and factual manner from the organization's point of view (not your own).

➡️Do not place blame or pass moral judgment no matter how tempted you are. Relate the ethical dilemma to the organization's stated goals and values.

➡️Consider documenting your analysis, your concerns and
your client's or boss's response. This will protect you and contribute towards making an ethical decision.

➡️Consider your options if an unethical decision is still made in spite of your efforts. Don't succumb to pressure. Don't risk your
professional designation.

We hope this helps some of you. We would love to hear if you have any insights or advice that would help other CPAs to cope.

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We observe people quitting after putting some effort in a new project, product, initiative, idea or even business. We also observe those who have achieved phenomenal successes in life and business.

Those people have persevered through difficult, painful periods without giving up on their hopes and commitments.

That level of commitment takes them through the tough times, without abandoning the goals.

People have written about gold miners who quit after digging for days, when they were 1 foot away from the gold ore.

The next person gained from that work by simply digging 1 foot further.

The lesson is about persistence, commitment and continuous effort and learning.

People who have succeeded have developed a certain type of character - they create long term relationships, vision. They're working on things that require patience.

Nelson Mandela is a perfect example of this. He spent 24 years in jail before he realized his goal of racial equality between the races in South Africa.

The same thing is true for business success. We have to learn, we have to persevere and wait. But we shouldn't be abandoning our goals because we hit a roadblock. Instead, we should be thinking and expanding our capabilities and methods.

We are in the midst of tremendous disruption. Not only due to COVID, but there is a wholesale change in the way we will live in the future. This is due to the use of artificial intelligence and automation.

Organizations are automating their business processes and reducing human involvement in every sector of the economy.

This will have serious implications for everyone. Just imagine how the introduction of automobiles changed human activity. The same disruption is happening today. Entire industries could be eclipsed and new industries will be forming.

We need to consider our careers and whether technology will replace our work. We can see the need for employees to boost their skills. What skills should you think about?

What are the emerging growth areas? We see environmental, social and governance measurement and data analytics as such fields. CPAs could take a leading role in standard setting, measurement and reporting. We can see a shift from financial accounting to impact accounting happening in the area of climate change and sustainability.

Lenders, regulators, and employees want corporations to move from profit to purpose. This means every corporate entity will have to show that they are good corporate citizens, they are not hurting the environment, they are not contributing to the climate crisis.

The CPA profession exists to protect the public interest in our society. Now, climate change and sustainability are critical components of the public interest. The profession must embrace this reality.

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