Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Journal of Accountin...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
versions View all 1 versions
addClaim

Ethical Guidance and Constraint Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Authors: Richard M. Orin;

Ethical Guidance and Constraint Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Abstract

This article discusses two key features of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which was enacted in 2002 to restore integrity and public confidence to the financial markets. The law was passed in response to the horrendous corporate disasters that had occurred, including Enron, Worldcom, Adelphia, and Tyco. The implementation of effective business ethics became essential and the new law required the publication of corporate codes of ethics. It did not mandate their content. This paper suggests specific sections for inclusion in the general guidelines to encompass the ethical dimensions of the Act. It analyzes the compliance by the corporations in their public filings since Sarbanes-Oxley became law. The revelation of the size of the audit and accounting fees paid to Arthur Andersen by Enron and similar fees paid in other current financial debacles lead to another key requirement of Sarbanes-Oxley: mandatory auditor rotation. Here, however, Sarbanes-Oxley did not go far enough. The law required rotation only of the lead auditor within a firm. This paper submits that it should have required rotation of audit firms instead. The positions of the public companies, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Government Accountability Office, and accounting journals are explored as to the rotation of auditor firms regarding audit-partner rotation within a firm. The paper concludes that Sarbanes-Oxley should be expanded to require audit-firm rotation. This expansion is necessary to reinforce the independence of the public accountant, both in fact and appearance, and to restore competition within the accounting profession, which will benefit the investing public. It is up to the Security and Exchange Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, ultimately, Congress to make this expansion a reality.

Related Organizations
  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    21
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Top 10%
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
21
Top 10%
Top 10%
Average
Upload OA version
Are you the author of this publication? Upload your Open Access version to Zenodo!
It’s fast and easy, just two clicks!