According to Gordon Beal, Vice President of the Research,
Guidance & Support Department at CPA Canada: “Ethics and professional
judgment are key attributes that distinguish professionals from others.” With
this in mind, “The profession continues to refine the framework for the new
single, unified designation and business credential and define the criteria for
the qualities required to be recognized as a Chartered Professional Accountant
(CPA). The challenge is to effectively embed, in the fabric of every
professional accountant’s decision-making process, the essential principles of
ethics and foster their ability to apply professional judgment while balancing
this with the task of acquiring the ever-increasing technical knowledge.”
As previously reported, CPA Canada partnered with the University
of Toronto in March 2014 to create a forum for exploring best practices with
respect to teaching the principles of ethics and professional judgment. As the
need for these skills is common to all professions, a one-day Educating
Professionals Symposium was organized which included participation of five
professions: education, health care, engineering, law and accounting. Leading
academics from the identified professions were asked to prepare thought papers
prior to the symposium. The dialogue that ensued on the day highlighted
similarities, differences and opportunities. It was the beginning of new conversations
across the professions.
