Ethics in Career Decision Making

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, an organization dedicated to the enhancement of the regulation of accountancy, is uniquely qualified to house an Ethics Center. Many state boards of accountancy require the passing of an ethics examination or the completion of ethics courses prior to licensure. The CPT takes the next step in this process – the linking of the theoretical to practical. Business ethics should consist of more than testing on the code of ethics but should enhance business practices.

During the span of your career, you will be tested and challenged. It is important to remain vigilant and ethical in your decision making through the years. At times, this may seem difficult. But it is nonetheless important to you and those that view you as a role model.

When discussing ethical decisions, you will want to familiarize yourself with these terms: Obligatory, Impermissible, Permissible and Supererogatory. According to Brown University, these are important terms used in making moral judgments about particular actions. Understanding these terms will help you assess situations.

The scenarios, people and resolutions will always vary. Therefore, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to how to act. We encourage you to always use your best judgement, trust your gut and act in the most responsible, honest and ethical way. In addition, you may want to incorporate these steps: identify the facts, lay out all possible options, sort options by implication and weigh your considerations.

-Dina Barabash, NASBA Content Development & Web Specialist