Contents

Ethics Background. 9

Morals. 9

What is Ethics?. 9

The Relationship of Morals and Ethics. 10

Illustrative Examples of Ethics. 12

Professional Ethics. 13

Legal versus Ethical 13

Why Should We Study Professional Ethics?. 14

Accounting Ethics. 14

Ethical Core Foundations for CPAs. 15

Review Question. 17

CHAPTER 6 RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. 18

Section 1. Preamble. 18

Section 2. Independence, Integrity and Objectivity. 19

Case Study - Independence. 19

Case Study - Integrity and Objectivity. 20

Case Study – Contingent Fees. 22

Section 3. Competence and Technical Standards. 22

Case Study - Competence. 24

Section 4. Responsibility to Clients. 25

Case Study - Return of client provided records. 27

Synopsis of Wyoming Board Disciplinary Action. 28

Section 5. Other Responsibilities and Practices. 29

Case Study - Advertising. 32

Case Study – Response to the Board. 34

CHAPTER 4 PERMITS. 35

Section 1.  Registration of Firms. 35

Section 2.  Renewal/Activation. 36

Section 3. Non-certificate Holders. 37

Section 4. Non-Resident Firms. 37

CHAPTER 5 CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION.. 38

Section 2. Definitions. 40

Section 3. Program Requirements. 41

Section 5. Evidence of Completion - Retention . 42

Section 6. Activation. 43

Section 7. Controls & Reporting . 43

Section 8. Extensions . 44

Section 9. Verification  . 44

Wyoming Board of Certified Public Accountants Frequently Asked Questions. 45

Synopsis of Wyoming Board Disciplinary Action. 48

CHAPTER 9 PEER REVIEW.. 48

Section 1. General Provisions. 48

Section 2. Requirements for Review.. 50

Section 3. Reporting to the Board. 50

Section 4. Findings. 51

Section 5. Records. 52

Section 6. Practice Privilege Firms. 52

Case Study - Peer Review.. 52

Synopsis of Wyoming Board Disciplinary Action. 53

Certified Public Accountant’s Act of 2005  (W.S. Title 33, Chapter 3) 54

33-3-121.  Certificates and permits; disciplinary action; grounds. 54

33-3-123.  Initiation of disciplinary proceedings; conduct of proceedings. 55

33-3-124.  Reinstatement of certificate or permit for good cause shown. 55

Review Questions. 57

The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. 58

About the Code. 58

Preface. 58

Part 1 – Members in Public Practice. 60

Rule 1.100 Integrity and Objectivity. 62

Case Study – Married Tax Clients Divorcing. 63

1.130 Preparing and Reporting Information. 64

1.200 - Independence. 65

Review Questions. 70

Rule 1.300—General Standards Rule. 71

Case Study – Audit Engagement with No Prior Experience. 72

1.310 Compliance with Standards Rule. 72

Case Study – Peer Review Discoveries. 72

1.320 Accounting Principles Rule. 73

1.400.001 Acts Discreditable Rule. 73

1.510.001 — Contingent Fees Rule. 75

1.520.001—Commissions and referral fees Rule. 76

1.600.001 —Advertising and other forms of solicitation. 77

1.700.001— Confidential client information rule. 78

1.800.001—Form of organization and name rule. 79

Review Questions. 81

Part 2 – Members in Business. 82

2.100.001 – Integrity and Objectivity Rule. 85

2.130.030 Obligation of a Member to His or Her Employer’s External Accountant. 87

2.170.010 – Pressure to Breach the Rules. 87

Case Study – Fair Finance. 87

2.300.001 — General standards rule. 88

2.310.001—Compliance with standards rule. 89

2.320.001—Accounting principles rule. 89

Case Study - The Company with Excess Reserves. 89

Case Study - The Company with Undisclosed/Unrecorded Contingencies. 90

2.400.001 Acts Discreditable Rule. 91

2.400.070 Confidential Information from employment or volunteer activities. 92

Part 3 – Other Members. 94

3.400.001 - Acts discreditable rule. 94

3.400.070 Confidential Information from employment or volunteer activities. 94

Glossary. 96

Index. 98

Exam Questions. 100

Answers to Review Questions. 104