Deontology and Accounting Ethics

Deontology and Accounting Ethics

Amanda Dunn

Liberty University

Introduction

Body

1 Ethical Systems Description

1 Deontological

2 Utilitarian

2 Ethical Systems Evaluation

1 Organizational Culture of Accounting

2 AICPA Professional Code of Conduct

3 Utilization of a Deontological System

Conclusion

Introduction No man can be certain beyond a shadow of a doubt how he will react in any given situation. One can know how he would hope to react; however, until the circumstances are in place behavior can not be entirely predicted. A person’s reaction in the direst of moments is in fact the heart of who they are. While reactions are spontaneous, actions are not and the decisions to act or not to act in one fashion or another are based on an ethical viewpoint. This truth spans across both personal and professional lives and from those individual lives crosses the boundaries into entire professions. Ethics is not limited to individuals, but stretches across entire organizations, social practices, and even complete social, political, and economic systems (Duska & Duska, 2003). The accounting profession is not an exception. This paper will describe the deontological ethical system as well as the utilitarian ethical system, both of which are proposed for the accounting profession. Second, it will evaluate each system with respect to the accounting professions organizational culture and the Accounting Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Code of Professional Conduct. Finally, it will conclude the use of the deontological ethical system as most appropriate for the accounting profession.
System Descriptions There are two ethical systems typically proposed for the accounting profession, namely deontological and utilitarian. Both systems contain characteristics which have been argued to be most appropriate for the accounting world. Each has been purported by authors, philosophers, ethicists, and theologians for

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