Leigh Ann Walker, Staff Accountant
1. In your opinion, did Vaughn overreact to Walker’s admission that she had been untruthful regarding the CPA exam? If so, how would you have dealt with the situation if you had been in Vaughn’s position?
Vaughn did not over react to Walker’s untruthfulness regarding the CPA exam. She lied that she had not taken it because she feared that she was going to fail. I believe it is important to be completely honest and have integrity while working in an audit firm. If Walker lied about not taking the exam, she easily could have lied about other “small” things. However, if it was me in Vaughn’s position, I would have also fired Walker. A recently hired accountant to the firm should always be telling the truth no matter what. Members of the firm should have complete honesty with one another and a person who lacks integrity should be no place near an accounting firm.
2. How would you have dealt with the situation if you had been in Robert’s position?
I believe that Robert acted professional. He allowed Walker 60 days to get a new job and even proposed to undisclosed that she was “counseled out” of the firm. As a managing partner, I believe it is important to keep the employees honest about everything. If I was in Robert’s position I would have done the same. I wouldn’t want to continue to work with a new employee who was caught lying.
3. Vaughn obviously questioned Walker’s personal integrity. Is it possible that one can fulfill the responsibilities of a professional role while lacking personal integrity? Why or why not?
It is not possible for one to fulfill the responsibilities of a professional role while lacking personal integrity. Examples like this were the type of people that were involved in the Enron case. The accountants and employees were acting professional but, lacked personal integrity by scheming to falsify financial data. I believe that for one to be professional, a person must have strong integrity so they always do the
Vaughn did not over react to Walker’s untruthfulness regarding the CPA exam. She lied that she had not taken it because she feared that she was going to fail. I believe it is important to be completely honest and have integrity while working in an audit firm. If Walker lied about not taking the exam, she easily could have lied about other “small” things. However, if it was me in Vaughn’s position, I would have also fired Walker. A recently hired accountant to the firm should always be telling the truth no matter what. Members of the firm should have complete honesty with one another and a person who lacks integrity should be no place near an accounting firm.
2. How would you have dealt with the situation if you had been in Robert’s position?
I believe that Robert acted professional. He allowed Walker 60 days to get a new job and even proposed to undisclosed that she was “counseled out” of the firm. As a managing partner, I believe it is important to keep the employees honest about everything. If I was in Robert’s position I would have done the same. I wouldn’t want to continue to work with a new employee who was caught lying.
3. Vaughn obviously questioned Walker’s personal integrity. Is it possible that one can fulfill the responsibilities of a professional role while lacking personal integrity? Why or why not?
It is not possible for one to fulfill the responsibilities of a professional role while lacking personal integrity. Examples like this were the type of people that were involved in the Enron case. The accountants and employees were acting professional but, lacked personal integrity by scheming to falsify financial data. I believe that for one to be professional, a person must have strong integrity so they always do the