Ethics: Protecting the Integrity of Florida CPAs (0004980)

Overview

This Florida Board of Accountancy-approved ethics course, developed by the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA), provides CPAs with a comprehensive understanding of their ethical and professional responsibilities. Designed for CPAs in various professional roles and industries, this course explores ethical principles, regulatory requirements and emerging issues affecting the profession.

Participants will gain insight into the Florida Statutes (Chapters 455 & 473) and Florida Administrative Code (FAC) (61H1), AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and general ethical behavior. The course includes discussions on professional integrity, independence, objectivity, conflicts of interest fraud detection and prevention, compliance requirements, and equipping CPAs with the knowledge needed to navigate ethical dilemmas while maintaining public trust.

This course meets the biennial ethics CPE requirement for Florida licensed CPA’s.

Highlights

1. Ethical Principles for Accountants

Overview of the Board of Accountancy (BOA) and its role in CPA oversight.

Florida Statutes (Chapters 455 & 473) and FAC (61H1).

Principles of ethics and history of the ethics requirement.

2. The Ethics Landscape Over Time

Regulation of CPAs – then and now.
Peer review requirements and regulatory compliance in Florida.
Audit quality.

3. Regulation of CPAs in Florida

How complaints are filed and investigated in Florida.
Common CPA violations, disciplinary actions and enforcement processes.
Becoming a Florida CPA.
Inactive or delinquent licensees.
Retired CPA status.
Prohibitions of the profession.
Florida CPE requirements.
Maintaining your Florida CPA license.
CPE reporting, maintenance and Florida non-resident requirements.

4. Ethics Concerns in Today’s World

AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.
Principles of ethics.
Fraud detection, prevention and the role of CPAs.
AI and automation in accounting: risks, bias and ethical concerns.

5. Independence, Integrity & Objectivity for CPAs

Principles of integrity, objectivity and due care.
AICPA Code – Conceptual Frameworks.
Independence and conflicts of interest.

6. Firm Practice Issues

Practice and firm license requirements.
Firm mobility.

7. Emerging Issues

Recent Florida legislation affecting CPA practice.
FICPA advocacy.
Future trends in CPA regulatory compliance.

Prerequisites

None

Designed For

The course meets the ethics CPE requirement for Florida licensees and provides essential guidance for professionals seeking to uphold the highest ethical standards.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Apply ethical standards outlined in the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and Florida Board of Accountancy rules.

Interpret Florida Statutes (Chapters 455 & 473) and FAC (61H1) related to professional conduct and regulatory compliance.

Analyze the CPA disciplinary process in Florida, including common violations, enforcement actions and penalties.

Understand independence, integrity, and objectivity requirements for attest and non-attest services.

Identify contemporary ethical challenges such as fraud, artificial intelligence (AI) risks, conflicts of interest and regulatory changes.

Recognize the impact of recent legislation, peer review requirements and compliance standards on CPA practice.