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You are a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and you have recently taken up the position of Sales Manager with a company that is facing financial difficulties.The company's termsinclude a commitment to maintainspecifiedprofitability, liquidity and solvency measures; failure to dosowould renderbankloans immediately repayable. The draft financial statements show that the company has not succeeded in complying with all of these requirements.
The financial results are very dependent on various estimates such as receivables impairments.The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has suggested that these be recalculated so as tobring the financial results within the requirements of the bank. He has asked you to sign pre-dated internal documentation which would imply that, asSales Manager,you initiated these changes in the belief that they would enhance the accuracy of the Financial Statements.
WhichTWOof the following courses of action available to you would be ethically acceptable according to the CIMA Code of Ethics?
Suggested Answer: B, C, E
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35 comments · newest first
BE
Benedict
11 months ago
I can't believe the CEO would even suggest that!
FL
Flo
11 months ago
D is a smart move, always better to get legal advice.
AL
Alaine
11 months ago
B seems a bit too risky, right?
JE
Jean
12 months ago
I agree, A is the only right choice here.
BR
Brandon
12 months ago
Definitely A. Signing that would be super unethical.
SA
Samira
1 year ago
I recall that the CIMA Code emphasizes transparency. I think option A is definitely the most ethical, but I’m unsure if I’d have the courage to stand up to the CEO in real life.
SA
Sabina
1 year ago
I’m torn between A and D. I know signing something I didn’t initiate is unethical, but I also feel like getting legal advice could help clarify my position.
FL
Flo
1 year ago
This scenario feels familiar; I think we practiced something similar in our case studies. I’m leaning towards option A, but I’m not entirely sure if seeking legal advice might be a safer route.
TH
Theola
1 year ago
I remember discussing the importance of integrity in our ethics classes. Refusing to sign seems like the right choice, but I worry about the potential backlash from the CEO.
QU
Queenie
1 year ago
Refusing to sign and seeking legal advice seems like the safest approach. I don't want to risk my professional reputation by going along with this.
AH
Ahmed
1 year ago
I'm a bit confused about the options here. I'll need to think through the implications of each one to decide what's best.
CH
Chau
1 year ago
Signing the documentation would be wrong, even if the CEO says the changes are plausible. I don't want to be complicit in misleading the financial statements.
BR
Brinda
1 year ago
This is a tricky situation. I'll need to carefully review the CIMA Code of Ethics to determine the most ethical course of action.
PH
Phuong
1 year ago
Civil war and weakening of infrastructure? That doesn't seem right. I'll go with the options that seem more directly related to the effects of money laundering.
EN
Ena
1 year ago
I remember something about zones reducing the need for multiple SQL databases, which sounds like a big advantage.
LA
Lashon
1 year ago
This looks like a tricky question. I'll need to think through the different options carefully.
TY
Ty
1 year ago
I see the CEO's trying to pull a good old 'creative accounting' trick here. Quick, someone get the Enron team on the line - they're the experts in this kind of financial gymnastics!
KE
Kelvin
1 year ago
Nope, nope, nope. I ain't putting my name on anything that's not 100% legit. I'd rather take a stand and risk the wrath of the CEO than compromise my integrity. Where's the 'Grow a spine' option on this question?
KA
Kasandra
1 year ago
D) Seek legal advice on the matter because you feel you are being placed in a very difficult position.
AV
Avery
1 year ago
A) Refuse to sign the documentation on the grounds that you did not initiate this action, and to give the impression that you did would be unethical.
MO
Moon
1 year ago
Well, if the changes are at least plausible, maybe it's not the end of the world. But I don't know, man, it still feels kinda shady. I'd probably just keep my head down and let the CEO handle it.
KE
Kerry
1 year ago
C) Refuse to actually sign the documentation but make clear to the CEO that you will raise no objection if he amends the Financial Statements as if you had signed.
DO
Dottie
1 year ago
B) Agree to sign the documentation on the grounds that these matters are highly subjective anyway and the proposed changes are, at least, plausible.
NO
Norah
1 year ago
A) Refuse to sign the documentation on the grounds that you did not initiate this action, and to give the impression that you did would be unethical.
TA
Tamala
1 year ago
Hmm, I see the CEO's point about wanting to meet the bank's requirements, but signing false documentation is a big no-no. I think seeking legal advice is the way to go - gotta cover my own behind here.
BE
Bette
1 year ago
Seek legal advice on the matter because you feel you are being placed in a very difficult position.
RI
Rickie
1 year ago
Seek legal advice on the matter because you feel you are being placed in a very difficult position.
AL
Alex
1 year ago
Refuse to sign the documentation on the grounds that you did not initiate this action, and to give the impression that you did would be unethical.
MO
Mozelle
1 year ago
Refuse to sign the documentation on the grounds that you did not initiate this action, and to give the impression that you did would be unethical.
MA
Marguerita
2 years ago
I'm not comfortable signing those pre-dated documents. That would be misleading and goes against the CIMA Code of Ethics. I'd rather stand my ground and refuse to participate in this dubious activity.
AR
Art
1 year ago
D) Seek legal advice on the matter because you feel you are being placed in a very difficult position.
TO
Tomoko
1 year ago
A) Refuse to sign the documentation on the grounds that you did not initiate this action, and to give the impression that you did would be unethical.
DA
Dahlia
2 years ago
I disagree. I think seeking legal advice is the best course of action in this situation.
DO
Dorian
2 years ago
I agree with Elfrieda. Refusing to sign the documentation is the right thing to do.
EL
Elfrieda
2 years ago
I think option A is the most ethical choice.