Keys to Maintaining Objectivity and Professional Skepticism
Overview
Every professional faces situations and scenarios where they feel their independence and objectivity related to an issue is impaired. They may feel pressured by management to minimize their report findings or, in some cases, look the other way. When these situations occur, professionals are faced with the dilemma of "what do I do?" or "how do I handle this situation?". These are the types of scenarios for which our university programs and business schools do not adequately prepare us. Experience can often be a good teacher. However, all individuals should be armed with some basic concepts that will prepare them to choose the right path when such difficult situations occur.
This course is designed to prepare professionals for those difficult situations by sharing key concepts to maintaining objectivity. After completing this course, you should understand how to ensure your work can be represented as independent and objective, and ultimately provide the greatest risk mitigation to your company.
Highlights
- Introduction to maintaining objectivity and professional skepticism
- Objectivity vs. independence
- Techniques to ensure independence
- How objective are you?
- Objectivity actions
Prerequisites
None
Designed For
All CPAs
Objectives
- Explore the requirements of professional skepticism
- Explore the rules defining independent roles
- Identify the difference between legality and ethics
- Explore the top five techniques to execute independence
- Explore the top five techniques to assist when employing objectivity
- Recognize what to do when management challenges you
Preparation
None
Notice
This course is offered by a 3rd party vendor and will not be accessible in the My CPE Tracker section of the ISCPA website. Course access information will be emailed directly to you by Accounting Continuing Professional Education Network (ACPEN).
Leader(s):
Leader Bios
Lynn Fountain, Lynn A Fountain
Lynn Fountain has over 40 years of experience spanning public accounting, corporate accounting and consulting. 20 years of her experience has been working in the areas of internal and external auditing. She is a subject matter expert in multiple fields including internal audit, ethics, fraud evaluations, Sarbanes-Oxley, enterprise risk management, governance, financial management and compliance. Lynn has held two Chief Audit Executive (CAE) positions for international companies. In one of her roles as CAE, she assisted in the investigation of a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme perpetrated by a vendor that spanned 7 years and implicated 20 employees. The fraud was formally investigated by the FBI and resulted in five indictments amounting to close to a $13 million fraud loss. Lynn is currently engaged in her own consulting and training practice. She has assisted numerous companies with enterprise risk management frameworks, internal audit processes and financial accounting. She is a highly sought after speaker and has trained internationally. In addition to her personal training, she also serves as a discussion leader for the AICPA for numerous classes. Lynn is the author of three separate technical books released in 2015, The first entitled “Raise the Red Flag – The Internal Auditors Guide to Fraud Evaluations”, published by the Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation and released in April 2015. Her second book “Leading The Internal Audit Function” was released in October 2015 by Taylor & Francis Publications. This book serves as the initial launch for a series of leading practice internal audit and information technology publications. In addition, her third book “Ethics and the Internal Auditor’s Dilemma” was released in December 2016. Ms. Fountain obtained her BSBA from Pittsburg State University and her MBA from Washburn University in Kansas. She has her CGMA, CRMA credentials and CPA certificate.
Non-Member Price $115.00
Member Price $85.00