Research Problem and Research Objectives
The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of ethics in auditing and accounting. In the current era, it is compulsory for the organization to evaluate the significance of ethics in accounting and auditing, which lead to making a reliable decision with respect to the auditing. Moreover, an audit in financial accounting is classified by the self-governing valuation of integrity that the financial statement of the firm is made and demonstrated by the supervisor. Auditing is used to examine the financial information of the firm. Further, auditing could be crucial for the organization. The audit design is effective for assuring the reliability and accountability in many areas and it related with accounting systems and legal compliance (Knechel and Salterio, 2016). It supports to identify both internal and external consistency of the value structure of organizations. Further, the organization uses many approaches to implement ethical auditing like monitoring and reviewing. In addition, it is also examined that data of ethical problems like financial frauds in the enterprise cannot be simply obtained (Belal, 2016).
Accounting industry of Australia is famous as compared to the other nation. Accounting industry of Australia considers 34 partners and 243 specialist that delivers different services to the specified company such as breadth of accounting, tax, and advisory services. The Australian government enables the company to start their business and obtain higher productivity. The stable government nature could offer an opportunity to get higher competitive advantages.
The primary purpose of this report is to examine the role of ethics in the accounting and auditing. This report also supports to gain knowledge about the challenges faced by the organization at the time of implementing ethics in the accounting and auditing section. Further, it also demonstrates their strategies that could be effective for the accomplishment of the organizational goal. It also leads the researcher to effectively implement ethics in the accounting and auditing section (Musbah, Cowton and Tyfa, 2016).
The dissertation structure is essential for examining each chapter of the dissertation. The dissertation structure There are certain chapters that are considered in the dissertation structure like an introduction, literature review, research methodology, data analysis and findings, and conclusion and recommendation. The dissertation structure is significant for increasing knowledge towards certain factors (Sekaran and Bougie, 2016). For the completion of this study in a valid manner, the following research system is followed by the researcher:
It is an initial section of this research that involves many factors like research aim, research questions, research background, research justification, and research objectives. It could also be effective for the obtaining the feasible result in the context of the research matter. Furthermore, this chapter also delivers depth understanding about the research limitation that could be effective for the accomplishment of research matter. This section is effective for the researcher to determine the direction of research and evaluate the research matter in a systematic manner (Smith, 2017).
Theoretical Background/Literature Review
The second chapter of this report is connected with the literature review as it is practiced to examine the research issues by implementing various models. This chapter enables the researcher to get feasible information about research issue. Through this chapter, the research scholar will be able to determine the range which has been delivered till the particular information. There are certain sources that are involved in the literature review like online sources, books, journals, articles, and offline sources (Karaibrahimoglu and Cangarli, 2016). These sources are effective for the research scholar to accomplish the specified aim and objectives in the targeted time. It could be effective for identifying the knowledge gap.
The research methodology facilitates the researcher to select appropriate tools, methods, strategies, and approaches to meet the aim and objectives of the research in an appropriate way. In the research methodology may techniques and tools are considered named research strategies, approaches, data collection method, data analysis method, and sampling. It could be imperative for making a valid and reliable result. In this, the research tools are determined on the basis of research objectives that are effective for the attainment of the valid and reliable result (Duff, 2016).
Data Analysis and Findings
In this study, this section is imperative to examine the collected information and get a reliable result. This chapter also facilitates the researcher to separate collected data and examine them in oppose to the specified research objective. Through this, a researcher will be capable to determine collected information and meet the aim and objectives of the research. Moreover, this section enables to demonstrate the collected data in a systematic way in the context of developing a reliable result (Yee, et al., 2017).
Conclusion and Recommendation
The conclusion and recommendation is the last section of the dissertation that facilitates the researcher to conclude the overall study according to the findings. This chapter facilitates to make an association between the research findings and specified research objectives. Consequently, it could also summarize the whole research in a concise form. Moreover, it offers strategies to improve the ethical practices in the accounting and auditing. Consequently, it enables the researcher to accomplish the aim and objectives of the research matter in limited time and cost. In last, this chapter also presents the practical implication for conducting research in the future (Brierley and Gwilliam, 2017).
The main objective of this research study is to analyze the importance of ethics in the auditing process. The other objectives include-
- To examine ethical rules of auditing and quality of auditing
- To assess the impact of the auditor’s commitment to the audit quality and ethical regulation of their profession.
- To recognize different aspects of ethical auditing with respect to auditing standards and laws governing auditing job
- To recommend regarding audit procedure development and implementation of effective solutions to such ethical issues in order to improve auditing ethics.
- What is the significance of ethics in auditing procedure?
- What are the different methods of implementing ethical auditing?
- How the ethical issues in auditing hampers the business?
- Whether there are any ethical rules and regulation of auditing profession?
- How ethical auditing aid the companies to improve their financial performance?
Research Design and Methodology
Literature review chapter facilitates to increase the conceptual data about the current research matter. There are many sources that are entailed by the research scholar to get valid and reliable information about the research issues such as books, articles, and online and offline sources. It could be essential to get a favorable result with respect to the current matter. In addition, the literature review enables to increase the knowledge with respect to the role of ethics in accounting and auditing. As a result, the researcher will be capable to meet the aim of study in the least time (Sorensen, Miller, and Cabe, 2017). Moreover, the researcher will use certain sources to obtain the information about the research issue such as books, online sources, articles, and magazines. Moreover, the literature review demonstrates the opinion and views of different authors with respect to the current research matter. Thus, it can be examined that the research scholar will be able to get feasible information about the research concern (Ji, 2017).
Samsonova-Taddei and Siddiqui, (2016) stated that ethics in the business could be essential for getting higher competitive benefits. Ethics could be the basic need of any business, especially in the accounting and auditing. Businesses are about gains and while ethics might contract with this perception. Moreover, ethics could be a critical aspect of professionalisms and businesses. Moreover, ethics could directly increase demand for the specified product and services due to improving the image of organization among shareholders. Moreover, individuals hold their business in the marketplace by considering the ethics. It is examined that the success of the business is relied on societies.
In support of this, Ji (2017) stated that ethics approaches support the business to conduct their research in an appropriate manner. There are certain factors that could impact on the behavior of the ethical behavior could directly impact on any business. These are conscience, respect, selfishness, utilitarianism, virtue, justice, religion, and rights. Further, it can also be examined that beliefs of individuals could be effective for the shaping the ethical behavior of an individual. Moreover, it is examined that ethics play an imperative role in the accounting and auditing section. The moral beliefs could determine ethics wherein an individual identify what is wrong and right behavior.
Vosselman (2016) argued that ethics entails personal values of an individual. The professional values in ethics could directly influence the judgment of a professional. It means that the organization could improve the ethical practices by humanizing the ethics culture and values at the working place. The ethical climate could lead to obtaining higher competitive benefits. In addition, it is also examined that the expert of accounting organization has a different perception to adopt ethics in the business.
Conclusion and Recommendation
In the favored of McAlister and Ferrell (2016) stated that organization select internal as well as an external accountant for conducting their research in a reliable way. The external accountants make a decision on the basis of the internal situation while the external situation of the organization leads by the external accountants. At the same time, it is examined that auditor and accountants are a key person of the organization as they direct to make a reliable decision with respect to the financial situation of the firm. Ethics could mandate the organization to give the value to the requirements of their clients. Moreover, it is also examined that ethics in the accounting relies on many factors like a business and human ethics, moral values, judgments, values of morale, and accountancy application.
On the other side, Bhasin, (2016) examined that the ethical professionals of accounting practices suitable behavior to obtain a reliable outcome. Ethical accountability in the business is imperative to accomplish the specified task in an appropriate manner as it would be effective for the accomplishment of the organizational task. Moreover, ethical accountability in the organization could also lead the business to get a reliable outcome. The majority of the organizations in nations confronted for the ethical issues in the accounting as well as auditing section that directly impact on their desired outcome and productivity of the firm. From misstatements of financial data could damage the image of the organization. It could lead to declining the possibilities of success. Moreover, there are also certain causes that could create the ethical issues at the working place like a breach of the ethical norms, lower level of consumer satisfaction, lack of trust of investors towards the products and services of the firm.
In support of this, Vaz, Fernandez?Feijoo and Ruiz, (2016) examined that accounting rules and regulations are available to ensure the financial statements of the organization as it could be effective for making the financial decision with respect to the firm. In addition, it is also examined that the financial statements are effective to maintain the outflow and inflow of cash and make a reliable decision in the favor of the organization. It is also examined that poor ethics in the accounting could directly impact on the reputation of the firm as it would decline the satisfaction level of the organization. Moreover, it also examined those poor ethics in the accounting decline the possibilities of getting higher competitive benefits.
Khelil, Hussainey, and Noubbigh, (2016) argued that audits are used to record the financial information of the organization and maintain the accuracy of certain components such as legal compliance, financial reporting, and accounting systems. Moreover, it is also examined that audits usually deal with quantitative data that could be easily measured. It could also be effective for the attainment of the desired goal in the least time and cost. It is also examined that qualitative research tools could lead the organization for the ethical audits as it would be imperative in getting higher success. Further, it is also examined that the organization uses many ethical tools to make successful auditing.
In support of this, Schaltegger Burritt, and Petersen, (2017) examined that organization reviews their policies as it could be related to the code of conducts and ethics training culture and policy compliance. Consequently, the organization would be capable to obtain higher success in limited time and cost. The organization should use formal policies to eliminate the ethical issues from the organization. The developed policies could consider many factors to make a reliable decision like equal employment opportunity, customer relations, financial management, sourcing, and discrimination. As a result, the organization would be capable to obtain higher competitive benefits in lest time and cost.
In the research study, research methodology supports to choose suitable methods for gathering reliable data regarding the research dilemma. Several approaches are considered in research methodology such as data collection method, the source of data collection, data analysis method, type of research and strategy of research (Alleyne, Hudaib, and Haniffa, 2018). These strategies of research design and methodology help to accomplish the aim and objectives of research concern, which is described as below:
Various types of methods are practiced by research scholar to complete their targeted task in less time and money. A research study may be descriptive, exploratory and explanatory as it depends on the purpose of the research study. Moreover, in the research study, research type depends upon the aim and objectives of the research. Furthermore, it is evaluated that descriptive research method will be used by the researcher as compared to other research (Svanberg and Öhman, 2016). Moreover, exploratory research is used to determine something innovative that is not finding out earlier. Besides this, the explanatory research is used to evaluate the research dilemma in depth. With respect to current research matter, descriptive research design will be used as it assists the researcher to conclude the several stages of internal abilities. Furthermore, it is also analyzed that current research strategy is important for enhancing the research scholar’s internal capabilities. Descriptive research method supports to determine the role of ethics in accounting and auditing. Besides this, research scholar will not use explanatory research method and exploratory research method because the nature of this research study is subjective.
The research approach is practiced to accomplish the aim and objectives of the research dilemma as it systematically presents the gathered data. Furthermore, the research approach contains three types of methods which are qualitative, quantitative and mixed research approach. The qualitative approach is imperative for gathering consistent and valid conceptual data towards research issues. This approach assists research scholar to gain understanding about the opinion and observation of several authors regarding current research issues. It is also analyzed that, this approach is crucial as compared to other approaches of research as individual research approach is not required in this research (Mintz, 2016). The mixed research approach is depending on both conceptual and numeric information regarding research issue for reaching at the specified conclusion. In this approach, the researcher will pool qualitative data through literature review and quantitative data through a survey through a questionnaire.
Mixed research approach will be used by the researcher to perform the research study in a consistent way. Since the application of the mixed research approach will facilitate the researcher to evaluate the role of ethics in accounting and auditing.
In the research methodology section, the data collection method is important as it facilitates the researcher to gather the appropriate data with the help of various resources. On the basis of the requirement of the investigation, both primary and secondary data collection method can be practiced by the researcher. Primary data is gathered by the investigator to accomplish particular research purpose through fresh data (Sethi, Martell, and Demir, 2017). Furthermore, there are different methods of primary data collection such as survey through a questionnaire, support of observation and interview method. In this technique, the investigator pools information as per the need of research concern that enhances the quality of the investigation. Beside this, secondary data is previously collected data by another researcher. This data is gathered through the newspaper, journals, and internet. As compared to another method, this method takes least time and cost (Ma’Ayan and Carmeli, 2016).
In this research, both techniques will be used by the investigator for conducting a current research study in a consistent way because both it facilitates the researcher to get authentic and standard requirement. Furthermore, secondary data collection technique will be collected with the help of several resources such as annual reports, books, authentic websites and the governmental reports (Boyle, Boyle, and Carpenter, 2017). Apart from this, primary data will be pooled by survey through a questionnaire. This technique will support the researcher to obtain fresh information through the targeted research participants to acquire a consistent and effective outcome.
Implementation of appropriate strategy in research study facilitates the researcher to efficiently achieve the research objectives. There are several methods that can be used by the research scholar to gather information with respect to the research such as experiments and survey method, interview, observation, literature review and case study. These all methods are assisted to provide appropriate information regarding the research dilemma (Tian and Peterson, 2016).
In this research, the researcher will use survey methods and literature review sources to accomplish the research objectives. Furthermore, it helps to attain consistent and effective data regarding research matter. In this way, the literature review will aid to gather the ideas and views from different authors with respect to research issues. Beside this, survey through questionnaire will be effective for obtaining the current data towards the research matter.
Sampling is a tool that assists the researcher to gather the information with respect to a current research study from the high amount of population. In the research study, the selection of an appropriate sampling technique assists the researcher to define the suitable samples from the population (Warren and Jones, 2018). Herein, a probability sampling technique will be used to choose the participants on a random basis. This sampling method will decline the chances of biases from research (Bemelmans-Videc, 2017). Furthermore, 50 accounting professionals will be selected from IT companies in Australia. It is significant to eliminate biases from the study and manage the whole procedure. In contrast to this, the non-probability sampling offers opportunities to choose the research participates on the basis of the research issue. Moreover, it is also analyzed that this process is less expensive as compared to the other sampling method (El Ghoul, Guedhami and Pitta a man, 2016).
In this dissertation, probability sampling with random sampling technique is used by the research scholar than the non-probability sampling method. Since, the probability sampling technique facilitates the researcher to choose the suitable sample size from the targeted samples. Consequently, the researcher would be capable to obtain higher competitive benefits by eliminating the biases from the research study. But at the same time, it is also analyzed that the non-probability sampling method will not be used by the researcher because it could not be appropriate for this researcher due to the subjective nature of the research matter. For conducting the survey through a questionnaire, the researcher will select 30 managers of accounting firms from the different region of Australia. The primary cause for the selection of the different regional managers is that it facilitates to obtain the different opinion of the research candidates with respect to the role of ethics in the accounting and auditing section of the organization. It facilitates the researcher to meet the aim and objectives of the research issue. Herein, the researcher will be capable to enhance the validity and reliability of the research issue (Weirich, Pearson, and Churyk, 2017). It could also facilitate the researcher to accomplish the aim and objectives of the specified research matter. Before conducting the research, the researcher will get prior permission from the top management of the specified organization for the attainment of research concern. In addition, it is also addressed that the researcher could use certain factors that could be considered by the researcher to make a reliable decision such as duration, employee involvement, and time. Moreover, the research scholar makes the survey through questionnaire by using MS-excel and evaluate the factual information in a systematic way. The researcher will use the email method to directly converse with the research participants with respect to the survey through a questionnaire.
The data analysis is an imperative technique for examining the collected information with the purpose of addressing the valid and reliable information. It is effective for the attainment of research aim and objectives in a systematic way (Christensen, Cote, and Latham, 2016). In addition, it is analyzed that there are certain data analysis tools that could be used by research scholar to evaluate gathered information such as conversational analysis, statistical analysis, thematic/content analysis, and disclosure analysis (Melé, Rosanas, and Fontrodona, 2017). These techniques are practiced by research scholar to examine gathered data and obtain a feasible result. The statistical data evaluation technique is used by the researcher to evaluate gathered information and meet the aim and objectives of the research issue. It is imperative for the accomplishment of the research issue. In this study, qualitative and quantitative data analysis technique is practiced by the research scholar to examine the conceptual data of research issue. Furthermore, it is examined that data analysis tool facilitates the investigator to meet the objectives and aim of the research issue.
References:
Alleyne, P., Hudaib, M. and Haniffa, R., 2018. The moderating role of perceived organizational support in breaking the silence of public accountants. Journal of Business Ethics, 147(3), pp.509-527.
Belal, A.R., 2016. Corporate social responsibility reporting in developing countries: The case of Bangladesh. Routledge.
Bemelmans-Videc, M.L., 2017. Accountability, a classic concept in modern contexts: Implications for evaluation and for auditing roles. In Making Accountability Work (pp. 39-58). Routledge.
Bhasin, M.L., 2016. The debacle of Satyam Computers Limited: A Case Study of India’s Enron. Wulfenia Journal KLAGENFURT, 23(3), pp.124-162.
Boyle, D.M., Boyle, J.F. and Carpenter, B.W., 2017. Accounting student academic dishonesty: What accounting faculty and administrators believe. The Accounting Educators’ Journal, 26 (2), pp. 1-8.
Brierley, J.A. and Gwilliam, D., 2017. Human Resource Management Issues in Accounting and Auditing Firms: A Research Perspective: A Research Perspective. UK: Routledge.
Christensen, A.L., Cote, J. and Latham, C.K., 2016. Insights regarding the applicability of the defining issues test to advance ethics research with accounting students: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Business Ethics, 133(1), pp.141-163.
Duff, A., 2016. Corporate social responsibility reporting in professional accounting firms. The British Accounting Review, 48(1), pp.74-86.
El Ghoul, S., Guedhami, O. and Pittman, J., 2016. Cross-country evidence on the importance of Big Four auditors to equity pricing: The mediating role of legal institutions. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 54, pp.60-81.
Ji, X.D., 2017. Development of accounting and auditing systems in China. UK: Routledge.
Karaibrahimoglu, Y.Z. and Cangarli, B.G., 2016. Do auditing and reporting standards affect firms’ ethical behaviors? The moderating role of national culture. Journal of Business Ethics, 139(1), pp.55-75.
Khelil, I., Hussainey, K. and Noubbigh, H., 2016. Audit committee–internal audit interaction and moral courage. Managerial Auditing Journal, 31(4/5), pp.403-433.
Knechel, W.R., and Salterio, S.E., 2016. Auditing: Assurance and risk. UK: Routledge.
Ma’Ayan, Y. and Carmeli, A., 2016. Internal audits as a source of ethical behavior, efficiency, and effectiveness in work units. Journal of business ethics, 137(2), pp.347-363.
McAlister, D.T. and Ferrell, O.C., 2016. Corporate governance and ethical leadership. In Business ethics: New challenges for business schools and corporate leaders (pp. 68-93). UK: Routledge.
Melé, D., Rosanas, J.M. and Fontrodona, J., 2017. Ethics in finance and accounting: Editorial introduction. Journal of Business Ethics, 140(4), pp.609-613.
Mintz, S., 2016. Accounting for the public interest. USA: Springer.
Musbah, A., Cowton, C.J. and Tyfa, D., 2016. The role of individual variables, organizational variables and moral intensity dimensions in Libyan management accountants’ ethical decision making. Journal of Business Ethics, 134(3), pp.335-358.
Nelson, M.W., Proell, C.A. and Randel, A.E., 2016. Team-oriented leadership and auditors’ willingness to raise audit issues. The Accounting Review, 91(6), pp.1781-1805.
Samsonova-Taddei, A. and Siddiqui, J., 2016. Regulation and the promotion of audit ethics: Analysis of the content of the EU’s policy. Journal of business ethics, 139(1), pp.183-195.
Schaltegger, S., Burritt, R. and Petersen, H., 2017. An introduction to corporate environmental management: Striving for sustainability. UK: Routledge.
Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R., 2016. Research methods for business: A skill building approach. USA: John Wiley & Sons.
Sethi, S.P., Martell, T.F. and Demir, M., 2017. Enhancing the role and effectiveness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports The missing element of content verification and integrity assurance. Journal of Business Ethics, 144(1), pp.59-82.
Smith, M., 2017. Research methods in accounting. USA: Sage.
Sorensen, D.P., Miller, S.E. and Cabe, K.L., 2017. Developing and measuring the impact of an accounting ethics course that is based on the moral philosophy of Adam Smith. Journal of business ethics, 140(1), pp.175-191.
Svanberg, J. and Öhman, P., 2016. Does the ethical culture in audit firms support auditor objectivity?. Accounting in Europe, 13(1), pp.65-79.
Tian, Q. and Peterson, D.K., 2016. The effects of ethical pressure and power distance orientation on unethical pro?organizational behavior: the case of earnings management. Business Ethics: A European Review, 25(2), pp.159-171.
Vaz, N., Fernandez?Feijoo, B. and Ruiz, S., 2016. Integrated reporting: an international overview. Business Ethics: A European Review, 25(4), pp.577-591.
Vosselman, E., 2016. Accounting, accountability, and ethics in public sector organizations: Toward a duality between instrumental accountability and relational response-ability. Administration & Society, 48(5), pp.602-627.
Warren, C. and Jones, J., 2018. Corporate financial accounting. Cengage Learning.
Weirich, T.R., Pearson, T.C. and Churyk, N.T., 2017. Accounting and Auditing Research: Tools and Strategies. USA: Wiley Global Education.
Yee, C.S., Sujan, A., James, K. and Leung, J.K., 2017. Perceptions of Singaporean internal audit customers regarding the role and effectiveness of internal audit. Asian Journal of Business and Accounting, 1(2), pp.147-174.
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
