Sponsors

Overview

Disputes can arise between providers of professional services and their clients or other (third) parties for a number of reasons. Accordingly, accountants need to understand their risk and the extent of their potential liability when providing their services to clients and third parties. The other side of the coin is the importance of ethical behaviour by accountants and their ethical responsibilities as professionals. This half-day seminar will cover both aspects of the professional accountant’s role and will provide clarity on the legal requirements for practitioners and how you can protect yourself against litigation, as well as provide guidance on how to deal with ethical issues.

Content

• An update on legislation and policy relating to professional standards and ethics that the practitioner needs to be familiar with
• Understanding the definition of professional negligence and criminal liability according to the Companies Act and Tax Administration Act
• Managing client expectations: what protection is the accountant afforded by the use of an engagement letter?
• What to look out for in terms of possible unethical behaviour in oneself/clients/colleagues
• What action to take when unethical behaviour is identified
• What are the consequences if such behaviour is identified but no action taken?
• Disciplinary proceedings by professional bodies
• Case study examples

Presenter

Caryn Maitland, Owner, Maitland & Associates

Caryn Maitland graduated in 1998 from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (now UKZN), with a BCom Honours degree in Accounting and completed her articles with KPMG in 2001 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA). She has been a member of IRBA as a registered auditor and accountant since 2002 and is also a registered member of SAICA.

Caryn has lectured in Auditing, second and third year subjects, for Varsity College from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, she was appointed as senior lecturer at UKZN and coordinated the Financial Accounting 300 course until June 2006. In addition, she has lectured in Advanced Financial Accounting since June 2006 until December 2011.

Caryn has conducted independent workshops and seminars for professional accountants since 2006 on various topics, and has consulted on a number of technical issues. Since January 2011, she has focused on her own business as technical freelance consultant and trainer.

Caryn also held the position Editor-in-Chief of an online continual professional development (CPD) website for accounting professional, eCPD Accountancy, having resigned from this post in September 2013.

Caryn has presented on the national tour for the annual Legislation Update with ProBeta Training (Pty) Ltd in 2014 and 2015, as well as on the FASSET national tour for the Tax Administration Act in 2014. She has also been involved with the SAICA SMP Technical tour (2014 to present).

CPD

Attendance of the half-day seminar will accrue 4 + 1 hours’ CPD for members of a relevant professional body such as ACCA, SAICA, AAT, SAIPA, SAIBA, IAC, CSSA, ICBA, LSSA, FPI, and the IBA.

The SAAA CPD policy is compliant with IFAC IES7 and is recognised by SAICA, AAT, SAIPA, SAIBA, IAC, CIS and others.