The International Code of Professional Ethics for Certified Public Accountants. A thought on the complexity in its application

Abstract

The profession of public accounting has as its main characteristic its focus on the public interest. For this reason, the International Code of Professional Ethics for Public Accountants establishes that, with the ethical practice of the accounting profession, which does not admit favoring private interests, the good image of public accounting is achieved. The present work was built from the qualitative and interpretive paradigm of the investigation, which allows the realization of interpretations in order to reflect on the different realities and how public accountants as intervening individuals shape reality. With the study it is concluded that the consideration of ethical conduct by the public accountant could be merely subjective. Also, the construction and implementation of the International Code of Professional Ethics for Certified Public Accountants must nevertheless consider cultural relativism and the moral reasoning of the public accountant.