the right kind of lazy: innovative approaches to streamlining workflows | accounting arc<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\u201cethics education in accounting has become stale,\u201d sa<\/span>ys <\/span>patrick,<\/span> ceo<\/span> and founder of <\/span>verifyiq<\/span> and <\/span>vice president of client success at the b3 method institute<\/span>, <\/span>reflecting on his 80-plus hours of ethics training over his 22-year career. \u201cthe right decisions are usually obvious, but <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> the process of making them <\/span>that\u2019s<\/span> difficult. unfortunately, none of my training has equipped me to handle that challenge.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/p>\none of t<\/span>he key issues raised in the episode is the formulaic nature of traditional ethics education. <\/span>m<\/span>ason<\/span>, founder and ceo of high rock accounting,<\/span> highlight<\/span>s<\/span> that many presentations simply focus on independence and professional standards, without delving into the philosophical underpinnings of ethics. \u201c<\/span>we\u2019re<\/span> not addressing the \u2018why\u2019 behind ethical decisions,\u201d <\/span>mason<\/span> emphasize<\/span>s<\/span>. \u201cwe need to be talking about ethical frameworks, values, and the cultural contexts that shape them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\nthe hosts also discuss how ethics training often overlooks the complexities of real-world situations. \u201cmost ethical dilemmas aren\u2019t about identifying what\u2019s right or wrong\u2014they\u2019re about the difficulty of making the right choice,\u201d says byron. \u201cthe implications of those choices are what make them hard.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nmason pushes for a deeper, more philosophical approach to ethics training. \u201cethics is about more than just following the rules. it\u2019s about understanding ethical theories and how they apply to different situations,\u201d she explains. according to mason, incorporating diverse cultural perspectives and exploring broader ethical considerations, like those seen in pop culture or science fiction, could provide accountants with more meaningful guidance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cwe need to make ethics education fun and relatable,\u201d mason continues, referencing how innovative approaches\u2014like combining ethics training with entertainment\u2014are helping to reshape the conversation. for example, she mentioned the concept of “drunk ethics,” a playful yet informative approach to ethics training.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nshimamoto, the founder and managing director of intraprisetechknowlogies llc and founder and inspiration architect for the center for accounting transformation, adds that expanding ethics training is critical for addressing modern issues in the profession. \u201cwith the rise of ai and other emerging technologies, we need to think critically about how these tools affect our ethical decision-making,\u201d he says. shimamoto also points to broader challenges, such as environmental, social, and governance (esg) concerns, that are becoming increasingly relevant to accountants.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cthere are ethical implications to everything we do as a profession,\u201d shimamoto concludes. \u201cwe need to broaden the conversation to include how we treat people, how we make decisions within our organizations, and how we uphold our values in the face of new challenges.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nthe hosts all agree that the future of ethics education needs to evolve. \u201cethics isn\u2019t black and white,\u201d patrick says. \u201cit\u2019s time we rethink how we approach this important topic, so accountants are better prepared to handle the ethical dilemmas they face every day.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n10 key takeaways<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n- traditional ethics training often feels formulaic and lacks depth.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- ethical dilemmas are not about identifying right vs. wrong but about making the difficult choice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- ethics training should focus on the “why” behind decisions, not just the rules.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- incorporating philosophical frameworks can make ethics training more meaningful.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- a values-based approach can enhance the ethical decision-making process.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- the rise of ai and emerging technologies poses new ethical challenges for accountants.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- esg (environmental, social, governance) concerns are becoming more important in ethics discussions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- ethics training needs to include human and operational issues, not just professional standards.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- cultural context significantly influences how ethical decisions are made.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u00a0we must make ethics education engaging and relatable to keep accountants informed and empowered.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n