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After 9 years as a CPA and 6 of those in public practice I have found that ethical behavior by accountants to be of the utmost importance for the entire industry. Next to trusting a doctor with your health, A CPA has to be one of your most trusted confidants throughout your adult life.

However, that doesn't appear to be the true question here. The question is about the importance of ethical behavior AMONGST accountant. That, in a perfect world, would make no difference. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world, so this is not always the case. In a small city such as the one I live in and have my practice, the accounting business has become very cut-throat. I used to keep telling myself that I was just being too sensitive or over-dramatic, but as time has gone by and I experience some of the same fellow accountants trying everything from sending "spies" into my office to try to find out my rates or snoop for client information, to withholding important information from one of their former clients who has chosen on their own free will to come to me, even to the extent of flat out lies by telling potential clients that I have lost my license or am closing my firm after tax season.

This, to some people, would be viewed as just plain old gorilla business. You do what you have to do to make the sale, and if it takes a little white lie, then so be it. The problem I have with that is that as CPAs we're supposed to be held to a higher standard. We are supposed to be the advisers to these clients and if we set an example like this, then the client will think that is the way to deal with their competition, employees and customers and before you know it, you have another Enron.

So if you are a CPA (or any professional in the accounting profession) stop and think of the Golden Rule before you do or say something against a fellow accountant.

And if you are a potential client of a CPA, stop and think twice before signing with a CPA that would spend half of your initial meeting slinging mud at any competition. If they would lie, cheat and steal against someone in such a way, is it really the kind of person you want advising you how to ethically run your business.

Learn more about this author, Ed Hensley.
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