*** VEUILLEZ NOTER que puisque cette formation est offerte en anglais seulement, les détails s’y appliquant n’ont pas été traduits.  

Course description

This course provides CPAs with an opportunity to ponder the importance of ethics and integrity in our profession using a blended learning model, interactive and self-reflective. Recent importance placed on ethical principles in businesses have created a framework for reporting environmental, social and governance benchmarks that indicate the sustainability of corporations. Also of importance are a company's efforts in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.   

Government resources, recent reports, statistics, actual and fictional case studies will assist the participants to navigate through relevant current trends, and how they may affect the accounting profession and their work as CPAs.

Price: $175.00

Verifiable Hours: 3.50

Ethics: 3.50

By the end of this course, participants should be able to

• Apply critical thinking to new and emerging trends related to the profession;
• Implement new best practices based on changes in the profession;
• Apply the principle of integrity from the CPA Code to non-financial factors in reporting; 
• Communicate corporate values to stakeholders by utilizing “Tone at the Top”;
• Apply the principles of the United Nations Global Compact to business situations;
• Describe the rules and guidance on money laundering, terrorist financing and the requirements in the event of a suspicious transaction;
• Describe the Statistics Canada ESG Dashboard and how it’s used in Canadian Industries;
• Describe the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion;
• Describe the theories and purpose of ESG and the efforts of various governments and authorities to provide a framework for reporting corporate sustainability;
• Describe relevant proposed reporting standards.
  

Content

• Ethics and the Profession:
  
  • Why do we continue to study ethics?
  • Review the ethics definitions from the CPA Code of Conduct
  • How important is “Tone at the Top?”

This section will provide an opportunity for participants to contemplate our ethical responsibilities as CPAs. We will review ethical decision-making models and the importance of critical thinking when adopting best practices. Reviewing the CPA Code of Conduct in areas of ethics will serve as useful reminders of CPAs overarching principles of integrity.

Discussion of the importance of Tone at the Top will strengthen participants’ ability to provide leadership in emerging areas of ethical conduct that relate to the profession.  

Polls and case studies will be utilized to demonstrate if, when and how non-financial factors affect risk and return of businesses and governments. 

• Emerging Trends:
  
  • United Nations Global Compact;
  • What does the Compact mean to CPAs?

This section will cover the ten principles of the United Nations Global compact and how some corporations are addressing corporate sustainability starting with a company’s value system and a principles-based approach to doing business.

This means operating in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Examples of corporations adhering and reporting on the principles serve as models for CPAs to understand the principles and how they may be applied by businesses.  

Multiple choice questions will be utilized to test participants’ knowledge on the ethical and financial aspects of a principles based and how they may affect corporate sustainability. 

• Fighting Financial Crime:
  
  • Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing  Act (PCMLTFA);
  • Anti-money Laundering (AML) Anti-terrorist Financing (ATF); 
  • Beneficial Ownership Registry;
  • CPA Guide and Resources for AML/ATF.

This section will provide an update on Canadian and Provincial efforts to fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Recent reports from government and authorities responsible for taking action will inform CPAs of the current situation. Various industry schemes will be shared so that participants can get a birds-eye view of the transactional flow of dirty-money, and where they may expect it to occur.

December 2021 updates from FINTRAC and the PCMLTFA new regulations will reveal requirements and purpose for Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) and Reasonable Grounds to Suspect (RGS). Recent developments on the Beneficial Ownership Registry will be reviewed. Participants will explore the CPA Guide to AML/ATF.

Guidance will be provided on assessing a suspicious situation, understanding one’s role as an employee or contractor and how to avoid crossing the line into an active or future investigation that may hinder the outcome. 

A case study around money laundering and investigation will inform the participants of how to avoid interfering with a criminal investigation. 

• A New Frontier: 
  
  • Environment, Social Governance (ESG);
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI);
  • The Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) (specific to ESG);
  • ESG and Indigenous Peoples;
  • Critical Thinking - Assessment Tool to Analyze ESG and Your Organization. 

This section will take a deeper dive into current developments to inform participants of what actions governments and corporations have taken to implement ESG. The Statistics Canada Modernization Project, and the experimental ESG Dashboard will be reviewed to bring relevance to the theories and purpose of environmental, social and governance measurement and reporting, such as diversity equity and inclusion (DEI).

ESG impacts on Indigenous People will be explored, while an ESG Disclosure Index from a global Oil and Gas company will provide insight. Sustainability reporting standards that are already proposed by ISSB and CSSB will be covered to give participants ample time to prepare for the implementation of the rules if relevant to their business. An exercise will emphasize the importance of critical thinking when considering an ESG implementation. 

Polls will be used to assess how many participants are involved with implementation of ESG projects, to bring awareness to the degree of readiness within the group. An assessment tool will provide participants with a decision guide for implementation of ESG.

Prerequisites

None

Applicable for

CPA’s who are not well-versed in ESG and the new requirements as of December 2021 under PCMLTFA Regulations.

Special notes/requirements

This course is not a replacement for detailed instruction on how to implement ESG.

Course provider

Level up with CPA PRO. Designed by the CPA profession for CPAs, these courses help you adapt to industry changes and advance your career with the latest industry content delivered in a way that works around you.

Delivery format

Participants view recorded videos while following along with the course material provided. This self-study course allows the user to save their progress and return to continue later.

Course access

Once purchased, CPA PRO sessions can be accessed via the Learning Hub in your CPA New Brunswick member portal. Please click HERE for more details. Sessions will be available for 180 days post-purchase.

There are no cancellations or transfers available for any CPA PRO courses.

Recording CPD hours

CPD hours will not automatically be credited to your member profile. You are welcome to manually record your CPD hours on in your online member profile or track your CPD in any other manner you see fit to suit your needs.