Question Tag: Ethics

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SCS – Nov 2024 – L3 – Q5c – Board Independence and Accountability in Corporate Governance

Evaluation of how the governance structure at BOGML affects board independence and accountability.

There are a number of concepts of good corporate governance that every entity, including BOGML, must strive to adhere to.

Required:
Provide an evaluation of how the existing corporate governance structure at BOGML may undermine or compromise the following key concepts of good corporate governance, with particular reference to the current composition and organisation of the board.

i) Independence
ii) Responsibility and accountability

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SCS – Nov 2024 – L3 – Q5b – Board Responsibilities in Corporate Governance

Evaluate the role of the board in corporate governance, focusing on responsibilities for strategy, oversight, and ethical leadership.

The role of the board of directors is critical in corporate governance. The National Corporate Governance Code for Ghana (the National Code) issued in November 2022 outlines the board’s core responsibilities.

Required:

Advise the board of BOGML on the FIVE key responsibilities of the board of directors as outlined in the National Code.

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SCS – Nov 2024 – L3 – Q5b – Board Responsibilities in Corporate Governance

Identify and explain the five governance pillars in the National Corporate Governance Code for Ghana 2022.

It is evident that all is not well with the current corporate governance at BOGML. However, for the company to achieve sustainable growth and remain competitive, it must adhere to sound corporate governance principles.

Required:

Using the FIVE governance pillars identified in the National Corporate Governance Code for Ghana 2022 (the National Code), issued in November 2022 by the Institute of Directors-Ghana, advise the company on how to improve upon its current governance structure.

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CR – Nov 2024 – L3 – Q5b – Financial Performance & Digital Technology Integration

Evaluating the financial performance of Nsawkaw PLC and addressing challenges of digital technology integration in accounting.

(a) Compute the following ratios for the years ended 2024 & 2023:
i) Operating profit margin
ii) Return on parent’s equity
iii) Earnings per share
iv) Current ratio
v) Trade receivables days
vi) Total liabilities to total assets %

(b) Write a report to the directors of DPEF evaluating the inter-period financial performance and position of NK using the above six (6) ratios. The report should draw attention to how the non-financial metrics combine with the financial counterparts to showcase the prospects and viability of NK.                                                                      c) The concept of double materiality is relevant to sustainability impacts and dependencies. It
incorporates financial materiality and impact materiality. 

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AAA – Nov 2024 – L3 – Q1a – Ethical Issues in Audit Engagements

Ethical issues and professional conduct in an audit engagement involving conflict of interest.

You are the Audit Partner of a mid-sized audit firm, Amoah Sonko and Associates. One of your major clients, Kudi LTD (Kudi), has approached you for a significant audit engagement. Kudi has been experiencing rapid growth and plans to get listed on the Ghana Alternative Market within the next year. During preliminary discussions, the Managing Director of Kudi, a friend, promised you a bonus if the audit report is completed quickly and is favourable, highlighting the company’s strengths.

In the course of the audit of Kudi, you came across a series of unusual financial transactions. These included large intercompany loans with its sister companies, other significant related-party transactions with the directors, and an unusually high volume of sales recorded a few days before the end of the financial year. Upon further investigation, your team found discrepancies in inventory records and evidence of potential non-compliance with revenue recognition standards. The Finance Manager insists these transactions are legitimate and necessary for the company’s rapid growth.

Additionally, you noticed that Kudi was involved in a high-profile legal battle with a major competitor, which was not fully disclosed in the financial statements. The lawyer for Kudi insists that you omit this information from the audit report, arguing it would damage the company’s reputation and its plans to get listed on the Ghana Alternative Market.

Required:
i) Identify TWO potential ethical issues in the scenario and explain the potential impact on your professional conduct.                      ii) Identify the steps you should take to address the conflict of interest presented by the Managing Director’s offer. 
iii) Discuss the potential sanctions for accepting the Managing Director’s offer and providing a favourable audit report without proper verification. 
iv) Evaluate the impact of the undisclosed legal battle on Kudi LTD’s financial statements and the upcoming initial public offer.

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MA – Nov 2024 – L2 – Q2b – Ethical Standards in Business

Explanation of the need for ethical standards in business with reference to threats to ethical behavior.

According to the IESBA Handbook of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, 2024 Edition, a distinguishing mark of the accountancy profession is its acceptance of the responsibility to act in the public interest and uphold ethical standards.

Required:

Explain the need for ethical standards in business (make reference to threats to ethical behavior).

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FR – Nov 2024 – L2 – Q5b – Ethical Issues in Government Grants

Identification of ethical issues in recording a government grant and recommended corrective actions.

Dahn is a Chartered Accountant who works for a large Pharmaceutical Company, Nimely Company Ltd (Nimely), as an Assistant Financial Controller. The Financial Controller of Nimely is also a Chartered Accountant with more than ten years of experience.

During the year, Nimely received a vehicle worth GH¢800,000 from the government to support its operations. According to the Government Official who presented the vehicle to the management of Nimely, the company has been compliant in filing and paying its taxes.

At the year-end, the Financial Controller passed the following entry in the Tally Software of Nimely Company Ltd:

Dr Vehicle GH¢800,000
Cr Income GH¢800,000

Dahn explained to the Financial Controller that the grant should be treated in line with the provisions of IAS 20: Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance. It is the company’s policy that such grants should be treated as deferred income.

The Financial Controller agreed that the treatment should have been in line with IAS 20, but mentioned that the entries should not be changed since the current treatment may help them meet their profit targets.

It is Nimely’s policy to depreciate its vehicles at a rate of 25% per annum on a straight-line basis.

Required:

i) Identify the ethical issues involved.
ii) Recommend the appropriate actions to be taken by Dahn.

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FM – Nov 2024 – L2 – Q1b – Ethical Issues in Financial Management

Discuss four ethical issues in financial management and their impact on decision-making.

Finance Managers often encounter decisions that affect the organisation’s financial health and reflect its commitment to ethical standards. Balancing profitability with ethical considerations can be challenging, yet it is essential for sustaining long-term success and protecting an organisation’s reputation.

Required:
Discuss FOUR ethical issues in financial management.

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AAA – May 2016 – L3 – Q2a – Ethical Issues in Auditing

Discuss the importance of ethical guidance for accountants in addressing money laundering concerns.

(a) Comment on the need for ethical guidance for accountants on money laundering.
(5 Marks)

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CR – Nov 2016 – L3 – SC – Q5 – Ethical Issues in Corporate Reporting

Explain the concepts of creative accounting and window dressing, provide examples, reasons, and suggest preventive measures.

Manipulation of reporting entities book’s and records have been termed in many quarters as “Creative Accounting” and “Window Dressing”. The Management of Wastage Plc requires clarification of these two concepts.

Write a report to the management of Wastage Plc that includes:
a. Definitions of Creative Accounting and Window Dressing. (2 Marks)
b. Five examples of each concept. (5 Marks)
c. Three possible reasons for Creative Accounting and Window Dressing. (3 Marks)
d. Advice to management on five possible preventive measures of Creative Accounting. (5 Marks)

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AFM – May 2019 – L3 – Q4a – Ethical issues in financial management

Discuss how ethical issues influence financial policies in relation to shareholders, suppliers, and customers.

Ethical issues arise even when the objective is clear. Financial managers face trade-offs fraught with ethical issues. Thinking through the trade-offs and all the costs and benefits is important.

Required:
Suggest ways in which ethical issues would influence the firm’s financial policies in relation to the following:
i) Shareholders
ii) Suppliers
iii) Customers

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CR – May 2018 – L3 – Q5b – Regulatory Framework and Ethics

Identify the ethical issue related to inventory adjustment and explain the Finance Manager’s course of action.

The Finance Manager of Integrity Sports, a Takoradi-based manufacturer and retailer of sporting goods, prepares quarterly accounts for his boss, the Finance Director. At the end of the first quarter of 2017, the Finance Manager identified that net assets were below the level required by a bank covenant that the company had entered into with Unique Bank. He therefore alerted the Finance Director to this. The following week, the Finance Manager identified that amended quarterly accounts had been sent to the bank by the Finance Director, in which the inventory figure had been increased. The same issue arose at the end of the second quarter of 2017, and again the Finance Manager noted that the accounts sent to the bank included a different inventory figure from those that he had prepared the previous week. The Finance Manager is sure that cut-off procedures and valuation were correctly adhered to and this was done under his supervision. He therefore asked the Finance Director why the figures had changed, and the Finance Director responded:

“The adjustment is just for some goods held at one of our customer’s retail premises – we missed it out from the stock count. Don’t worry, I’ve got it all in hand!”

The Finance Manager then reviewed the contract with the customer in question and noted that it clearly states that the customer will be supplied with goods as ordered and has no right of return in the case of unsold goods. He also noted that Integrity Sports has sold goods to this customer for a number of years on the same terms, and no adjustment has ever been made before. Both the Finance Manager and Finance Director are Chartered Accountants.

Required:
i) Explain why the inventory adjustment suggests an ethical issue. (6 marks)
ii) Explain FOUR courses of action that the Finance Manager should take in respect of the issue that he has identified. (4 marks)

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CR – April 2022 – L3 – Q3b – Regulatory framework and ethics

Explain the ethical principles involved in the given scenario and recommend the appropriate actions based on the IFAC Code of Ethics.

b) You are a newly qualified accountant in your fifth year of employment in a limited liability company. Your immediate supervisor has been on sick leave, and you are due for study leave. You have been told by the Finance Director that, before you go on leave, you must finish a task that should have been completed by your immediate supervisor. The deadline suggested to complete the task appears unrealistic, given the complexity of the task.

You feel that you are not sufficiently experienced to complete the task alone and would need additional supervision to complete it to the required standard. The Finance Director appears unable to offer the necessary support in this regard. Should you try to complete the work within the proposed timeframe but fail to meet the expected quality, you could face repercussions on your return from study leave. You feel slightly intimidated by the Finance Director and also feel pressure to do what you can for the company in these challenging times.

Required:

i) Using the IFAC Code of Ethics as a guide, explain the ethical principles that apply in the above scenario. (5 marks)

ii) Recommend the possible actions that you should take as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), in dealing with this ethical dilemma. (5 marks)

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CR – Nov 2018 – L3 – Q5b – Regulatory Framework and Ethics

Appraise the ethical issues arising from the email received by Peter Anokye regarding liquidity challenges and lease accounting implications in Nanton Ltd

You are Peter Anokye, a newly qualified accountant and have recently been appointed as the deputy financial controller in Nanton Ltd (Nanton). You report directly to the finance director, Maria Wakasu. Just last week, you received the following email from Maria.

“As you are aware, I have to present some financial information at the board meeting scheduled in two days’ time and I need your help. I should be grateful if you could give me some advice on this issue. I don’t know whether you heard the news that Mamprugo Ltd (Mamprugo), an important customer of ours, is having some liquidity challenges. I think it is a case of not being able to manage their working capital cycle effectively. I know the financial controller of Mamprugo well, and he has mentioned that they have approached Yendi Ltd (Yendi) for credit. Of course, if they are successful, we should have no problems in getting paid. Today, I have received a request from Yendi asking for a credit reference for Mamprugo. I think if you check their credit history you will find they were good payers. Do you think I should mention anything about the liquidity issue to Yendi?

As I mentioned to you yesterday, over coffee, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) regards leasing as an important method of financing the company. However, you are probably more up to date with the existing accounting requirements than me. The current accounting standard has some significant deficiencies and no longer meets the needs of users of financial statements. On 1 January 2016, we entered into a sale and finance leaseback transaction with our bank. The arrangement involved the sale, at fair value, of a building for GH¢8 million. The book value of the building in the financial statements at that date was GH¢6 million. I know that the CEO is particularly concerned that showing the lease as a finance lease could be detrimental to any loan applications that we might make over the next twelve months. Between you and I, we need to keep him happy: my year-end bonus could be in jeopardy if we get this area wrong. In the medium term, I am worried about the implications of the introduction of IFRS 16: Leases, particularly the effects on the statement of financial position, statement of profit and loss and other comprehensive income, and our key financial ratios. Surely our gearing ratio will be higher. Maybe we can get round the problem of including leases on the statement of financial position by classifying some of them as short-term (i.e., less than twelve months).

Peter, I should be grateful if you could give me some advice on this issue.”

Required:
Appraise the ethical issues arising from the information provided in the mail sent by Maria, and propose and justify appropriate steps that Peter Anokye should take to address them.

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CR – Nov 2021 – L3 – Q3c – Regulatory Framework and Ethics

Assess the ethical principles breached in a workplace scenario and recommend actions in accordance with the IFAC Code of Ethics.

Linda is a junior member of an audit firm and has just returned to work after taking compassionate leave to care for her sick mother. For financial reasons, Linda needs to work full-time. Linda has been having difficulties with her mother’s home care arrangements, causing her to miss several team meetings, which usually occur at the start of each day, and she needs to leave work early as well.

In terms of her capabilities, Linda is very competent at her work, but her frequent absence puts severe pressure on her and her overworked colleagues. Linda’s manager knows that workflow through the practice is coming under intense pressure, and in order that the team’s output is not affected, had a discussion with the audit team on Linda’s circumstances. This has, however, led to some members of the audit team undermining Linda at every given opportunity, putting Linda under even greater stress.

Required:

i) In accordance with the IFAC’s code of ethics, assess THREE (3) possible fundamental ethical principles that might have been breached. (5 marks)
ii) Recommend the possible actions that the manager should take as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana in dealing with this ethical dilemma. (5 marks)

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May 2016 – L3 – Q3b – Regulatory framework and ethics

Compare compliance-based and integrity-based approaches to ethical issues, and recommend steps to sustain value creation from an ethical culture

As a Professional Accountant, you are regarded as an expert with specialized knowledge acting ethically and influencing others to do what is right whilst working to very high standards. When confronted with an ethical challenge or dilemma in a corporate setting, Lynne Paine suggests two approaches to the management of ethical issues in organizations – the compliance based approach and the integrity based approach.

Required: i) Compare and contrast the compliance based approach and the integrity based approach in the management of ethical issues. (6 marks)

ii) Discuss the steps you would recommend to your company to adopt in order to sustain value creation from an ethical culture. (4 marks)

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CR – Mar 2024 – Q3c – Regulatory framework and ethics

Analyze ethical issues in a takeover scenario, including views on considering ethics and potential conflicts of interest.

The directors of Akilapa Ltd are involved in takeover talks with Bongo Partners. In the discussions, Mr Mensah, the Managing Director of Akilapa Ltd stated that there was no point in considering issues of ethics because the purpose of the takeover is to increase the market share of the company and ultimately increase the profit of the firm. In seconding his point, Miss Benkro indicated that in adopting a pragmatic approach to the takeover, there was no ethical issue in considering a third-party in relation to Bongo Partners because, in her opinion, the takeover will not benefit the third party but the company and the society.

During the meeting, Dr Worlanyo who was the previous Accountant of Bongo Partners before moving to Akilapa Ltd was involved in drafting the financial statements and provided a positive approval of the takeover bid. Upon receipt of the recommendation, a member of the board of directors found that there are indications that several of Bongo Partners’s Non-current assets might be impaired.

Required: i) Comment on the views of Mr Mensah and Miss Benkro regarding the fact that there is no point in considering ethical issues in the takeover bid. (4 marks)

ii) Assess the ethical issues in this scenario and explain how they should be addressed. (6 marks)

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CR – Nov 2016 – L3 – Q5b – Regulatory framework and ethics

Discuss the ethical and professional conflicts faced by the chief accountant of Nyamekye Plc when pressured to alter financial statements to secure a loan.

The board of directors of Nyamekye Plc, a company listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange, needs a significant capital injection to finance a capital-intensive project to consolidate the company’s market share, failure of which will result in a loss of 25% of its market share. The management of the company has approached National Commercial Bank (NCB) for a loan facility to undertake the project.

However, the bank’s current lending policies require borrowers to demonstrate good projected cash flow, as well as a level of profitability which would indicate that repayments would be made. Unfortunately, the current projected statement of cash flow does not satisfy NCB’s criteria for lending. The directors have told the bank that the company is in an excellent financial position and that the financial results and statement of cash flow projections will meet the criteria, and that the chief accountant will forward a report to this effect shortly. The chief accountant has just recently joined Nyamekye Plc and has openly indicated that she cannot afford to lose her job because of her financial commitments and family concerns.

Required:
Discuss the professional and potential ethical conflicts which may arise in the above scenario and the ethical principles which would guide how a professional accountant should act in this situation.

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CR – Nov 2016 – L3 – Q5a – Regulatory framework and ethics

Discuss the ethical and professional issues faced by the financial accountant when considering the treatment of a finance lease in financial reporting.

Mordern Technology Ghana Limited plans to upgrade its production process, and the directors believe that technology-led production is the only feasible way to remain competitive in recent times. However, the company operates from a leased property, and the leasing arrangement was established to maximize taxation benefits. Surprisingly, the financial statements have not shown a lease asset or liability to date.

A new financial accountant joined Modern Technology Ghana Limited just after the financial year-end of 31 July 2016 and is currently reviewing the financial statements to prepare for the upcoming audit and to begin making a loan application to finance the new technology.

The financial accountant believes that the lease relating to both the land and buildings should be treated as a finance lease, but the finance director completely disagrees. The finance director does not wish to recognize the lease in the statement of financial position and, as a result, wishes to continue treating it as an operating lease. The finance director believes that the lease does not meet the criteria for a finance lease and was made clear by the finance director that showing the lease as a finance lease could adversely affect the loan application.

Required:
Discuss the ethical and professional issues which face the financial accountant in the above transaction.

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CR – July 2023 – L3 – Q3b – Regulatory framework and ethics

Identify ethical issues in financial statement adjustments and recommend actions for the new Finance Director to address these breaches.

b) Axim Manufacturing plc has just employed Mr. Kennedy Owusu as the Finance Director of the company. The previous Finance Director, Mr. Ebenezer Anokye, completed the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 before he left. The Auditors of the company are also done with the audit of the financial statement for the year, expressing an unmodified opinion on the accounts. Mr. Ebenezer Anokye is loved by the General staff, Management members and the Board of Directors for his ability in making the organisation profitable over the years, and “guaranteeing” increased end-of-year bonus payments to staff, as a consequence.

Mr. Kennedy Owusu wanted to familiarise himself with the operations of the company, and therefore decided to go through the financial statements for the previous year. He is dismayed to find several errors in the financial statements. The previous Finance Director, Mr. Ebenezer Anokye, passed several adjusting entries in January, 2022 to reflect in the 2021 financial statements. In one of such instances, Mr. Ebenezer Anokye recognised revenue on a large order received on December 28, 2021 but shipped on January 3, 2022. The narration or explanation given to this adjusting entry is, “omission of previous year sales, now recorded”.

Also, purchase of inventory in October 2021, which was fully sold by the end of the year had been recognised in January 2022. Finally, depreciation expense had been reduced by GH¢230,000. All these adjustments were designed to increase profit after tax or earnings per share, culminating in increased bonus payment to Management and the General staff.

Required:

i) Identify the ethical issues involved in the adjustments made by Mr. Ebenezer Anokye.

(5 marks)

ii) Recommend the possible actions that Mr. Kennedy Owusu, the new Finance Director, should take to resolve the ethical breaches and to reverse the wrong accounting treatments. (5 marks)

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