gofer articles

It’s a tough exam, but that’s probably for the best since a lifetime of continuing specialized education awaits the publicly certified accountant.
Generally known as CPE for CPAs, these courses ensure that bean-counters stay on top of the newest changes in the law so that last year’s legal loopholes are used only when still applicable!

But technical matters are not the only real concern of such classes.
A big component of modern CPE for CPAs is ethics.
Yes, that’s right – plain old right and wrong!
Somewhere across the line it’s been overlooked in a major way, ethics.
Then again, unethical dealings have been part and parcel of the profession ever since the Middle Ages, when its Italian founder observed common accounting scams already prevalent even back then!

All the same, ethics CPE for CPAs is undoubtedly a good thing – especially for course authors!
For they are prone to ever run out of fascinating topics to go over.
Many a former white-collar criminal still shakes his head at the lax practices still so widespread in the industry, almost ensuring another round of scandal, scandal such as what had brought them down once.

Take the case of Sammy Antar of Crazy Eddie’s fame.
A CPA and former CFO of his cousin’s legendary retail electronics business, Sam now rails against accounting fraud of the sort which he used to practice for more than a decade.
The fact is, he is now a speaker who gives seminars on how to catch white-collar criminals.
Moreover, folks can in fact earn CPE and CLE credits for attending his talks!
But the very idea that he should still have something to say – something for which audiences still gather to hear – underlines the unlucky currency of accounting fraud.

Needless to say, ethics deal with morality rather than mere legality.
It may be hard for numbers-crunchers to think in deeply philosophical , but that’s precisely why continuing education is a need!