Ethics for Accountants 2026 – 4 one-hour programs

Program 1: Ethics in Focus: The Accountant’s Role in Combatting Financial Crime

As the scope of Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime expands, accountants face not only new regulatory obligations, but also heightened ethical responsibilities. The role of the accountant in identifying, preventing, and responding to financial crime is under renewed scrutiny—and professional judgment, integrity, and public interest obligations are at the heart of it. This session explores the intersection between compliance and ethics, helping accountants understand not just what the law requires, but what ethical conduct demands in complex client scenarios. It will:

• Unpack the core ethical principles underpinning AML/CTF obligations, including the duty to act in the public interest, integrity in client relationships, and professional scepticism
• Review the key reforms to AML and CTF laws and how they apply to accountants, particularly where services trigger AUSTRAC enrolment and compliance duties
• Explore ethically challenging scenarios, including suspected black economy participation, confidentiality dilemmas, and when to escalate concerns
• Consider the ethical implications of providing services that may appear benign (e.g. company formations, registered office use, or ASIC agent roles) but are vulnerable to misuse
• Provide guidance on reconciling AML/CTF reporting obligations with client confidentiality and privacy expectations
• Examine real-world case examples where ethical and legal obligations intersect—and how practitioners can respond with integrity

Program 2: Ethics of Dealing with Clients when Relationship Breakdowns and Disputes Occur Between Them

Unfortunately, there will be times within the public practitioner's client base where uncomfortable situations will arise due to relationship breakdowns and disputes occur between clients. Those situations require careful thought by the practitioner on how to manage their involvement for both parties. This session explores the issues, including:

• Red flags that identify that conflict of interest issues need addressing
• Drawing the line in practice between continuing to act for one or both clients and removing yourself entirely
• How to manage the client relationship for a domestic relationship breakdown when both partners have roles in their:
  • company or trust business structure
  • SMSF
• How to manage the client relationship when two non-related business partner clients are in dispute and their structure includes:
  • a trading company and
  • their own respective family trusts as equal shareholders
• Potential consequences if a conflict of interest isn't addressed by the public accountant
• Examples of relationship breakdowns and disputes where you may be able to continue to act for all individuals and related entities?
• Dealing with confidentiality issues occurring with individual clients and their related entities involved in a relationship breakdown or dispute
• Tips for documentation to be maintained when addressing the issues 

Program 3: Cyber Security and Client Data Governance in Practice – Meeting Your Ethical Requirements

As an accountant in practice, there is a huge responsibility for ensuring that client confidential information is kept confidential. This session focuses on how this obligation has been impacted by ever-increasing technological advances, along with providing some tips and strategies to assist with ensuring the responsibility is met, including:

• How accounting practices are being targeted for cybercrime
• Tips for securely managing the TPB's Proof of Identity requirements for new clients
• A review of the TPB's guidance on email communications (TPB(PN) 4/2021)
• Tips to manage client data security when work from home practices are involved
• Why accountants should familiarize themselves with the security arrangements of their cloud-based client data storage provider
• Situations in practice where client data confidentiality requirements may be inadvertently being breached, including:
  • use of AI being provided with client personal information
  • use of outsourcing organisations including bookkeeping services
  • offshore service providers
• How the Notifiable Data Breach requirements can impact accountants in practice
• Strategies to assist with implementing best practice cyber security and data governance procedures

Program 4: The Ethics of Taking on a New Client or Letting One Go

It's part of public practice that clients may come and go for a variety of reasons. This session explores the ethical considerations when a practitioner may wish to accept or decline an approach from a prospective new client, or determine that it may be best if an existing client engagement come to an end, including:

• The type of due diligence that may be undertaken when considering taking on a new client
• Action to take if due diligence on a new client uncovers “skeletons in the closet”, including:
  • fringe benefits tax issues not previously addressed by the client or prior accountant
  • Division 7A issues not previously addressed
  • Previous non reported cash income
• Addressing the issues when:
  • responding to ethical letter received from accountant approached by a client you disengaged from for ethical reasons
  • communicating with prior accountant when you are approached by a prospective new client
• Situations when managing a conflict of interest may be acceptable
• Practical examples where:
  • a new client request may be denied
  • an ongoing client relationship may be terminated
• Checklist of ethical issues to address when:
  • considering taking on a new client
  • considering whether to continue with a client engagement