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Financial Reporting and Ethics - The Institute of Chartered ...

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCEIn summary, accountants <strong>and</strong> auditors are like the two sides <strong>of</strong> thesame coin. <strong>The</strong> former prepares <strong>and</strong> keep the records <strong>and</strong> generateaccounts. <strong>The</strong> latter vouches the records as to accuracy <strong>and</strong> integrity.<strong>The</strong> auditors evaluate the correctness <strong>of</strong> the accounts prepared againstthe underlying records <strong>and</strong> whether or not they accord with thestipulations <strong>of</strong> the law <strong>and</strong> statements <strong>of</strong> accounting st<strong>and</strong>ards.11.13 THE ROLE OF ACCOUNTANTS ANTS AND AUDITORS IN GOVERNANCEFRAMEWORK AND SOCIETY, , INCLUDING AGENCY Y PROBLEMSCorruption <strong>and</strong> power are closely intertwined <strong>and</strong> are the masterminds orunderlying factors for corporate governance failures all over the globe. Manyindividuals <strong>and</strong> business outfits look up to accountants to prepare theirfinancial returns / tax, papers etc. <strong>The</strong>re is the idea <strong>of</strong> trust which enters therelationships between the public <strong>and</strong> accountants in the circumstances. <strong>The</strong>energy giant in the United States <strong>of</strong> America, Enron, is a very notoriousexample where those at the top institutionalized fraudulent practices bycollapsing the wall <strong>of</strong> internal control mechanisms. Notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing theunsavoury developments all over the world, the role <strong>of</strong> accountants <strong>and</strong>auditors include the following:(a)Accountants are the first set <strong>of</strong> gatekeepers. <strong>The</strong>y should endure thatall financial transactions are at arms-length (that is, without showingfavour or familiarity so as to strengthen bargaining power), valid,captured <strong>and</strong> properly recorded in accordance with the prescriptions <strong>of</strong>the Companies <strong>and</strong> Allied Matters Act, Cap. C20, LFN 2004, statements<strong>of</strong> accounting st<strong>and</strong>ards, international accounting st<strong>and</strong>ards, local <strong>and</strong>international pronouncements <strong>and</strong> the code <strong>of</strong> ethics.(b)(c)(d)According to Frank Harding: “Corruption – Rising to the Challenge,”IFAC, (May 1999), accountants <strong>and</strong> auditors hold strategic positions <strong>of</strong>access to highly privileged <strong>and</strong> confidential information which shouldbe guarded scrupulously, without divulging them to third parties,except as a matter <strong>of</strong> duty in court proceedings or with the knowledge<strong>and</strong> consent <strong>of</strong> their clients.Accountants <strong>and</strong> auditors should execute their functions withpr<strong>of</strong>essionalism in such a way that they can react positively <strong>and</strong>promptly to the indicators <strong>of</strong> fraud <strong>and</strong> other irregularities, <strong>and</strong> forwardreports to the highest levels <strong>of</strong> authority.Internal auditors are the watchdogs <strong>of</strong> organisations, resources becausethey are there year-round, unlike the statutory external auditors whovisit only once-in-awhile. <strong>The</strong> internal auditors are in a unique positionto influence management <strong>and</strong> the board on risk management,enforcement <strong>and</strong> review <strong>of</strong> internal control procedures <strong>and</strong> corporategovernance.239

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