Why character matters

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There is a tricky balance to be maintained between productive and amicable relationships with clients and being a gatekeeper on behalf of society at large. Finally, success is not immediately apparent in the world of accounting. Having the financials signed off and published; having a happy boss, satisfied stakeholders or analysts whose expectations have been met — all of these are dubious measures of success. Instead, success is determined by how useful the financial statements were for purposes of accountability, planning, strategy or investment.

In turn, success in audit depends on whether an opinion stands three years later. This is not weakness of character, but recognition of fallibility.

In the same way, we should arrange the professional environment in a way that makes it easier to do the right thing. Instead of managing familiarity or self-interest, we should try to minimise or eliminate these challenges. We should also guard against trying to comply ourselves into integrity. More rules and stricter punishments, while sometimes necessary, may also undermine the true value of a professional — judgement and discernment that comes with experience. It may be necessary for us to revisit the assumption that technical excellence is separate from character.

This seems plausible for nurses, attorneys and engineers. Returning to the behaviour of ethics professors. There is a story told of the eminent moral philosopher Bertrand Russell. While occupying the Chair in Ethics at Harvard University, Russell was reportedly embroiled in an adulterous affair.

When questioned about this by the Harvard board of governors, Russell argued that his private life was irrelevant to his academic responsibilities. When the board reminded him that he was, after all, a professor of ethics, he replied that while being a professor of geometry at Cambridge, he was never required to be a triangle ….

While geometrists need not be triangles, accountants are required to be accountable. It is essential for accountants to develop and safeguard their character through consistent habit formation. Skip to content. Why character matters. Why should accountants ac count more? The importance of integrity in accounting To some extent, accounting is different from other occupations. Yet many obstacles test the ethics of accountants. Learn more here.

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