Overview

Professional ethics is not only about knowing the rules but about applying sound judgement when the rules are unclear, the pressure is real, and the consequences matter. Accountants regularly face ethical dilemmas involving client pressure, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, independence, and commercial demands, where poor judgement can quickly escalate into disciplinary or regulatory issues. 

Failing to spot these ethical pitfalls early or relying on standard compliance checklists leaves practitioners exposed to severe consequences. Under mounting pressure to please clients or meet tight targets, even experienced professionals can find their objectivity compromised, resulting in costly penalties, loss of credentials, or permanent damage to their firm's reputation. 

Join Caryn Maitland CA(SA) on 28 July 2026 from 10h00 to 12h00 as she explores how professional ethics is applied in practice through real-world case studies, guiding participants from ethical awareness to confident, well-reasoned and defensible ethical decision-making using the IFAC Code of Professional Conduct. 

Learning objectives   

Attending this webinar will equip you with the following skills:  

• Reconnect with the fundamental principles of professional ethics and their public interest purpose. 

• Identify ethical issues early before they escalate into reportable or disciplinary matters. 

• Apply the IFAC Code's conceptual framework to real, complex, and ambiguous scenarios. 

• Recognise common ethical threats and tripwires in modern accounting practice. 

• Make and document ethical decisions that can be justified to regulators, professional bodies, and peers. 

Content   

The webinar will cover the following topics:  

• Foundations: Ethics as a Professional Obligation 

  • Purpose of professional ethics 

  • Public interest responsibility 

  • Ethics versus technical compliance 

• The IFAC Code of Professional Conduct – Practical Application 

  • Fundamental principles: Integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care, confidentiality, professional behaviour 

  • The conceptual framework for ethical decision-making 

  • Identifying, evaluating, and addressing ethical threats 

• Ethical Threats and Safeguards 

  • Self-interest, self-review, advocacy, familiarity, and intimidation threats 

  • Safeguards created by legislation, regulation, and the profession 

  • Safeguards within the work environment 

• Ethical Tripwires in Modern Accounting Practice 

  • Client pressure and fee dependency 

  • Conflicts of interest that evolve over time 

  • Confidentiality versus disclosure dilemmas 

  • Independence and objectivity erosion 

  • Ethical implications of NOCLAR 

  • "Everyone does it" and "just this once" rationalisations 

• Case Studies and Application 

  • Real-world ethical scenarios drawn from practice 

  • Step-by-step application of the conceptual framework 

  • Identifying the real ethical issue versus the technical issue 

  • Appropriate responses, escalation, and documentation 

  • What regulators and professional bodies look for after the fact 

  • What regulators and professional bodies look for after the fact

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