Ethics: Applying the code

This course provides verifiable ethics related CPD and can be used to meet the CA ANZ requirement for a minimum of 6 ethics CPD hours per triennium.

This foundational micro course is aimed at finance professionals who seek to develop or refresh their understanding of how to apply the IESBA Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code) when they encounter common ethical situations in their roles and careers.

In a survey of CA ANZ members, respondents ranked 'adhering to a code of ethics' as the most important characteristic of a profession, ahead of expertise and education. Ethics is about doing what is morally correct – both in our work and in our personal lives. A profession earns respect when its members commit to and adhere to its ethical code.

All professional accountants have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the public and comply with the fundamental principles of integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care, confidentiality, and professional behaviour. This is set out in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code), which applies to all International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) member bodies.

Just like accounting standards, member bodies may adopt or modify the international Code for use in their own jurisdictions. Australia and New Zealand each have their own published Codes of Ethics based on the international Code.

This micro course focuses on the international Code, and you will learn about your ethical obligations as a professional accountant and how to use the Code in practice. You will gain practical experience using the Code and applying the principles to real life scenarios.

Key benefits of this course include:

• Identify the ethical requirements that apply to you, your role and how to use the Code to address ethical scenarios and dilemmas;
• Explore common ethical dilemmas you may encounter in your role and practice interpreting the Code to determine which fundamental principles of the Code are potentially threatened; and
• Practise applying the conceptual framework of the Code to address threats to the fundamental principles of the Code in common ethical dilemmas.

By completing this micro course, you’ll be able to:

• Recognise how the International Code of Ethics for Accountants (the Code) applies to you and your role.
• Analyse common ethical dilemmas to determine which fundamental principles of the International Code of Ethics for Accountants (the Code) are potentially threatened.
• Apply the International Code of Ethics for Accountants (the Code) to address threats to the fundamental principles of the Code in common ethical dilemmas.

As your role expands to support the financial, strategic, and operational wellbeing of organisations, you'll need to share your knowledge and insights in a way that helps others to take action. This is the skill of influencing others. You will need to persuade, motivate, and inspire others and gain commitment to objectives or courses of action. You'll need to apply this skill in a way that's ethical - not manipulative.  

In this micro course, you'll learn how to influence others in a way that prioritises mutual benefit, ethical conduct and the good of the profession.  

Key benefits of attending this micro course include: 

• Gain commitment to objectives or courses of action that benefit both you and your stakeholders hold 
• Apply influence appropriate to different stakeholders and professional situations while building your reputation as a trusted business partner
• Apply techniques of influence while preserving and enhancing your relationships with stakeholders. 

By completing this micro course, you’ll be able to: 

• Use your influence to gain commitment to objectives or courses of action 
• Adapt your influencing skills techniques to different stakeholders and professional situations 
• Use techniques of influence ethically and preserve relationships with stakeholders.