Ethics for Accountants - The Foundations Explained

Introduction

Ethics has always been central to the accounting profession - demanded not only by our professional bodies but also by our employers, clients, and society at large.

But what, exactly, is demanded of us? What is the real purpose of ethical standards? And are we not entitled to our own - perhaps superior - moral code?

Today, the conversation on ethics is rich with philosophical thought and competing viewpoints. The language surrounding ethics can be vague, and yet professional standards keep expanding - with terms such as ‘acting in the public interest’ now forming key pillars of our ethical codes. This introductory webinar is designed for accountants who wish to build or refresh their foundational understanding of ethical standards and principles.

Professional bodies and organisations require us to be trained, tested, and certified in ethics. Yet, as many of us know, an unethical person can still pass a test on ethics. So, what does it really mean to be ethical in today’s professional environment?

Being ethical today involves demonstrating virtue, living values, and adhering to the rules that guide our profession. The goal of this webinar is to help you clearly understand the ethical standards set by your company and your professional body - so you can confidently meet (and, when appropriate, challenge) those standards.

Ideal for those new to ethics training or seeking to re-establish a strong grounding before moving on to more advanced or update sessions, this webinar sets out the key concepts, expectations and dilemmas that underpin ethical practice in the accounting profession.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• An introduction to key ethical principles and standards governing the accounting profession
• The motives and need for the renewed focus on ethics in accounting
• The range and limits of what is considered unethical behaviour
• The influence of culture - both human and organisational - on ethical standards
• The paradox of virtue - can we be too ethical or too rigidly virtuous?

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Tuesday 7th April 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 1,900+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.