Overview      

Maintaining professional independence is one of the cornerstones of ethical accounting practice. However, accountants and finance professionals often face competing pressures from clients, commercial realities, fee dependency and the fear of losing business. These challenges can create ethical dilemmas that threaten professional judgement, objectivity and compliance with the Code of Professional Conduct.

Join Caryn Maitland CA(SA) on 20 August 2026 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm as she explores the ethical challenges surrounding professional independence in today's business environment. Through practical discussions and real-world scenarios, this session will examine how fee pressures, client expectations and commercial relationships can influence decision-making, while providing practical strategies for maintaining integrity, objectivity and professional scepticism.

 Learning objectives     

Attending this webinar will equip you with the following skills:  

• Understand the ethical principles relating to independence, integrity and objectivity.
• Identify threats to professional independence arising from fee arrangements, client relationships and commercial pressures.
• Apply appropriate safeguards to manage ethical risks in professional engagements.
• Evaluate ethical dilemmas using a structured decision-making framework.
• Strengthen professional judgement while maintaining compliance with ethical and professional standards.

Content   

The webinar will cover the following topics:  

• Understanding Professional Independence

  • The importance of independence in the accounting profession
  • Fundamental ethical principles
  • Independence in fact and appearance
  • Professional responsibilities and public trust
• Fees, Fear and Client Pressure
  • Fee dependency and self-interest threats
  • Managing difficult client relationships
  • Commercial pressures versus professional obligations
  • Responding to undue influence and ethical conflicts
• Maintaining Ethical Standards in Practice
  • Identifying and evaluating threats to independence
  • Applying safeguards and professional judgement
  • Practical case studies and ethical decision-making
  • Best practices for maintaining integrity and objectivity

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 including: CA(SA), Professional Accountant (SA), AGA(SA), FCCA, BAP(SA), BA(SA) and ACCA.  

• Registered auditors.  

• Audit managers.  

• Trainee accountants.   

 Price               

• R 450.00 - Online admission - Individual.  

• Group Price 1 - From R337 per person (up to 5 users)   

• Group Price 2 - From R260 per person (up to 10 users)   

• 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:  

• A summarised slide presentation.  

• Reference documents and/or course material where available.  

• You can ask questions during the webinar and you will also have access to the presenter after the webinar.    

Corporate training solutions  

  At the Accounting Academy, we recognize 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 prioritize 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 organizational goals.     

Contact us    

Have any questions or need any assistance? Contact us today!  

• Online chat through our website.  

• WhatsApp: Start chatting (+27635026114)  

• Phone: 010 593 0466  

• E-mail: ticket@accountingacademy.co.za