It’s a tough assessment, but that’s most likely for the best since a lifetime of continuing specialized education awaits the publicly certified accountant.
Known as CPE for CPAs, these courses ensure that bean-counters stay on top of the most recent changes in the law so that last year’s legal loopholes are used only if still applicable!
But technical matters are not the sole concern of such classes.
A big component of modern CPE for CPAs is ethics.
Yes, that’s right – plain old right and wrong!
Somewhere along the line it’s been neglected in a major way, ethics.
Then again, unethical dealings have been part and parcel of the occupation ever since the Middle Ages, when its Italian founder observed common accounting frauds already prevalent even back then!
All the same, ethics CPE for CPAs is really a good thing – especially for course authors!
For they are prone to ever run out of fascinating topics to discuss.
Many a former white-collar offender still shakes his head at the lax practices still so widespread in the industry, almost assuring another round of scandal, scandal such as what had brought them down once.
Take the case of Sammy Antar of Crazy Eddie’s fame.
A CPA and former CFO of his cousin’s legendary retail electronics business, Sam now rails against accounting fraud of the sort which he used to practice for above a decade.
In fact, he is now a speaker who gives classes on how to catch white-collar criminals.
Moreover, folks can actually earn CPE and CLE credits for attending his talks!
But the very undeniable fact that he should still have something to say – something for which audiences still gather to hear – underlines the regrettable currency of accounting fraud.
Needless to say, ethics deal with morality and not mere legality.
It may be difficult for numbers-crunchers to think in deeply philosophical , but that’s precisely why continuing education is a necessity!
