Overview
Ethical responsibility does not end when financial statements are signed, tax returns are submitted or audit files are closed. When accounting professionals discover that previously completed work contains errors, omissions, material misstatements or questionable professional judgements, they face one of the most challenging dilemmas in practice. Correcting past mistakes requires honesty, professional courage, and an uncompromising commitment to maintaining public trust, even when doing so leads to uncomfortable conversations with clients, board members, or regulatory authorities.
Ignoring known errors in past work carries severe consequences for both the practitioner and the client. Uncorrected misstatements can trigger non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR) provisions under the SAICA and IRBA Codes of Professional Conduct, expose the practice to professional negligence claims and result in severe administrative or statutory penalties. Furthermore, staying silent compromises professional integrity, destroys client trust when the error inevitably comes to light and can lead to formal disciplinary action or the loss of a licence to practise.
Join Caryn Maitland CA(SA) on 18 November 2026 from 10h00 to 12h00 for this vital session in the Ethics Real Talk Series. This 2-hour webinar explores the ethical obligations and practical steps required when past work is found to be wrong. You will gain actionable guidance on how to evaluate errors, communicate disclosures transparently, rectify mistakes while upholding professional standards and build practice review processes that prevent recurring failures.
Learning objectives
Attending this webinar will equip you with the following skills:
- Understand the ethical responsibilities and regulatory obligations of professionals when errors or omissions are identified in past work.
- Identify situations where uncorrected past work compromises professional integrity, objectivity or NOCLAR compliance.
- Assess the financial, legal, regulatory and reputational impact of identified errors to determine appropriate corrective measures.
- Communicate difficult disclosures transparently to clients, employers and relevant stakeholders while managing professional risk.
- Apply practical strategies to rectify past mistakes, document decision-making and strengthen internal quality management to prevent future failures.
Content
The webinar will cover the following topics:
- The Ethical Dilemma of Discovering Past Mistakes
- Recognising errors, omissions and questionable professional judgements in completed engagements
- Distinguishing honest technical mistakes from deliberate misrepresentation and misconduct
- Ethical and regulatory implications of leaving known errors uncorrected
- Professional Responsibility & Ethical Code Compliance
- Professional duties under the SAICA and IRBA Codes of Professional Conduct when past work is incorrect
- Applying fundamental principles: integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care
- Overcoming fear and resisting the temptation to conceal or downplay past errors
- Assessing Impact & Regulatory Exposure
- Evaluating financial, legal, tax and regulatory consequences for clients and the firm
- Determining affected stakeholders, including SARS, CIPC, banks and regulatory bodies
- NOCLAR considerations and assessing the urgency and scope of required corrective action
- The Courage to Correct: Disclosure & Stakeholder Communication
- Deciding when, how and to whom errors must be disclosed
- Communicating uncomfortable facts to clients, boards and management transparently
- Managing difficult conversations, managing liability and preserving professional relationships
- Practical Steps to Rectify Past Work
- Identifying and executing appropriate corrective measures and amended submissions
- Maintaining thorough documentation, audit trails and records of decision-making
- Escalation protocols, legal advice and seeking guidance from professional bodies
- Preventing Recurring Failures & Strengthening Practice Culture
- Learning from past mistakes to sharpen professional judgement and skepticism
- Upgrading internal review mechanisms, checklists and ISQM 1 quality management controls
- Fostering a practice culture of psychological safety, transparency and accountability
- Practical Scenarios & Case Studies
- Analyzing real-world ethical dilemmas involving incorrect financial reports, tax filings and audit files
- Evaluating alternative courses of action and their long-term professional consequences
Obtaining your CPD certificate
This training is compliant with the International Education Standard (IES7) issued by the International Federation of Accountants and recognised for CPD by relevant professional bodies including ACCA, CIMA, IAC, IIA, SAICA and SAIPA.
All attendees are issued with a CPD certificate available in an online profile.
About the presenter
Caryn Maitland CA(SA)
Caryn Maitland is 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 Auditing and Accounting at various institutions and has conducted independent workshops and seminars for professional accountants since 2006 on various topics. She 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. Caryn is also involved with the annual SAICA SMP Technical tour.
Who should attend?
The following persons will benefit from attending this webinar:
- Practising accountants and registered auditors
- Audit managers, partners and quality reviewers
- Tax practitioners and consultants
- Financial directors, CFOs and financial managers
- In-house accountants and compliance officers
- Trainee accountants and junior professionals building ethical decision-making skills
Price
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R 450.00 - Online admission - Individual.
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Group Price 1 - From R337 per person (up to 5 users)
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Group Price 2 - From R260 per person (up to 10 users)
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Group Price 3 - From R224 per person (over 11 users)
Steps to register for the event:
If you already have a profile, login and register for the webinar.
If you don’t have a profile, create a free profile then login and register for the webinar.
Click here to create a free profile (There is no charge to create a profile and gain access to our free Monthly Practice Management Series).
Click here to find out about the Technical Resource Centre & CPD Subscription options.
Additional material
By attending this webinar you will be provided with:
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A summarised slide presentation.
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Reference documents and/or course material where available.
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You can ask questions during the webinar and you will also have access to the presenter after the webinar.
Corporate training solutions
At SA Accounting Academy, we recognise the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic environment. Beyond our standard webinar offerings, we provide tailored corporate training solutions designed to empower your team with the latest in accounting and professional skills. Whether you're looking for online sessions or face-to-face training, our programs are crafted to ensure a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.
Drawing inspiration from modern training methodologies, our corporate solutions are interactive, adaptable, and focused on real-world applications. We prioritise hands-on learning, ensuring your team can immediately apply their newfound knowledge in practical scenarios.
Interested in a bespoke corporate training experience? Reach out to us at corporate@accountingacademy.co.za or call 010 593 0466. Together, let's design a training program that elevates your team's capabilities and aligns with your organisational goals.
Contact us
Have any questions or need any assistance? Contact us today!
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Online chat through our website.
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WhatsApp: Start chatting (+27635026114)
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Phone: 010 593 0466
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E-mail: ticket@accountingacademy.co.za