Drive ethical practice in corporate houses

Speakers at a programme Thursday underlined the need for having a leading role of the management accountants in practicing professional ethics, thus thwart corruption in corporate bodies of the country.
The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) organised the CPD (continuing professional development) programme on "Professional Ethics and Integrity: A Management Accountant's Perspective" at its office in the city.
Nazneen Begum, additional secretary of Ministry of Commerce (MoC) was the chief guest at the function.
Presided over by ICMAB president Abu Sayed Md. Shaykhul Islam FCMA, the CPD programme was attended, among others, its vice-president Jamal Ahmed Choudhury FCMA and secretary Md Abdur Rahman Khan FCMA.
Akhtar Sanjida Kasem FCA, FCMA, partner of A. Qasem & Co. presented a technical paper at the programme.
The speakers said that the management accountants, among others, played their role in preparing the financials statements that are later certified by the auditors.
The accountants' work requires a high level of ethics and integrity mainly because the users of financial statements heavily rely on their tasks in taking critical business decisions and making investments, they said.
In her presentation, Ms. Kasem said, "With a sound background in professional education and awareness of professional ethics, the management accountants can bring a positive change in the organisations they work for."
She said that the management accountants should lead from the front in creating an ethical environment.  
"It is essential for us to constantly remain conscious to maintain our professional integrity and ethics as lack of ethics has far reaching impact in the corporate bodies," she said.
She also said that knowledge of ethics of the management accountants can help the accountants and auditors make a right decision which will benefit the public even though may not benefit the company.
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