I. MEMBERS OF THIS ASSOCIATION shall not violate the confidential relationship between
themselves and their clients or former clients.
II. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION shall not offer
or render a professional service for a contingent fee during any
period where the professional service consists of an audit
engagement, review engagement or compilation engagement (including
the period of time covered by any historical financial statements
involved while performing an audit, review or compilation
engagement). Further, a member shall not offer to accept or accept a
contingent fee for the preparation of original or amended tax
returns or claims for tax refunds.
III. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION or a firm of which they are a partner or
shareholder shall not express an opinion on financial statements of
an enterprise unless they and their firm are independent of such
enterprise. Accordingly, members shall not express an opinion nor
perform a review or compilation of financial statements of an
enterprise financed in whole, or in part, by public distribution of
securities or on financial statements for use as a basis of credit
if they or members of their immediate family own or are committed to
acquire a substantial financial interest in the enterprise, or
during the period covered by an audit, review or compilation, they
have been a director, officer or employee of the enterprise unless
such interest or relationship is disclosed in the report.
IV. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION shall not allow any person(s) to practice in
their corporate, partnership or individual name who is not a
partner, professional corporation co-shareholder or in their employ.
V. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION who render professional services including an
audit engagement, review engagement or compilation engagement shall
not at the same time engage in any business or occupation which
would create a conflict of interest while performing the
aforementioned professional services.
VI. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION shall be
diligent, thorough and completely candid in expressing an opinion or
other assurance on financial statements they have audited, reviewed
or compiled.
VII. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION shall not sign an audit report purporting to
express their opinion as a result of an audit or examination of
financial statements, unless they, or members and/or employees of
their firm, have audited or examined the financial statements.
VIII. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION shall not permit
their names to be used in conjunction with any special purpose
statement prepared for their clients that anticipates results of
future operations, unless they disclose the source of the
information used and what assumptions they have made, and unless
they indicate they do not vouch for the accuracy of the forecast.
IX. MEMBERS OF THIS ASSOCIATION
shall not accept a commission from any person or client for
whom the member offers or renders concurrently a professional
service, where the professional service consists of an audit
engagement or a review engagement (including the period of time
covered by any historical financial statements involved while
performing an audit or review engagement), nor accept a commission
where the member performs a compilation of a financial statement
when the member expects or reasonably might expect that a third
party will use the financial statement and the member's compilation
report or transmittal does not disclose a lack of independence.
X. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION shall not seek
to obtain clients by advertising or other forms of solicitation in a
manner that is false, misleading or deceptive.
XI. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION who engage in the practice of accounting as a
sole proprietor shall not use a plural term in the name of their
firm, as "and company" or "and associates" or any other terms which
would indicate anything other than individual ownership.
XII. MEMBERS OF THIS
ASSOCIATION who receive an
engagement for services by referral from another accountant shall
not discuss or accept an extension of their services beyond the
specific engagement without first consulting with the referring
practitioner.
This Code of Ethics is a condensation of the
principles contained in the Association's Rules of Professional
Conduct and Official Interpretations which are binding in detail on
all members.