The consequences of breaching the CPA Code
If CPABC’s Investigation Committee determines that a member has breached the CPA Code and
that grounds exist for disciplinary action, it may—depending on the seriousness of the matter—
recommend that the member:
• Accept a reprimand;
• Complete one or more professional development courses;
• Pay a fine of up to $25,000 (up to $4,000 for a student 3 ; up to $100,000 for a registered firm);
• Pay the expenses of the investigation;
• Take other remedial action; or
• Do any combination of the above.
Furthermore, if a matter is then referred to the CPABC’s Disciplinary Committee, the Disciplinary
Committee may decide to make an order of suspension or cancellation, or to impose conditions
on a CPA’s continued membership.
If the Investigation Committee or the Discipline Committee establishes that a complaint
made against a member has grounds, CPABC will later publish a summary of the outcome of
the complaint on its website at bccpa.ca. When appropriate, complaint summaries disclose the
names of the CPAs who have breached the CPA Code.
3
In this article, “student” refers to either a candidate enrolled in the CPA Professional
Education Program or a student taking the CPA preparatory courses or pursuing the
Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance.
Key messages
As mentioned at the beginning of this article,
we receive relatively few complaints about our
members’ conduct. That’s good news, indicat-
ing that most CPAs know and adhere to the
rules, both in spirit and in practice. We en-
courage you to keep up the good work and
keep complaints at bay by:
• Communicating effectively and often;
• Ensuring systems are set up to meet all
necessary deadlines;
• Practising only in areas where you have
expertise and proper licensing and
insurance;
• Taking care when family disputes erupt
among existing clients and proceeding
with the utmost caution; and
• Remembering to take the high road, no
matter what the circumstances!
Want additional guidance?
CPABC’s professional standards advisors are
here to help you comply with the CPA Code
when you’re navigating difficult situations.
All guidance is confidential, non-binding,
and unofficial. Contact the advisors by email
at [email protected] or call:
• Stella Leung, CPA, CA, at 604-488-2609.
• Brigitte Ilk, CPA, CGA, at 604-629-8363.
• Both can also be reached using our
toll-free number at 1-800-663-2677.
In complex cases, you may also want to
consider obtaining independent legal counsel.
For your reference, the Chartered Professional
Accountants Act, CPABC Bylaws, CPABC
Bylaw Regulations, and CPABC Code of Pro-
fessional Conduct can all be accessed online
at bccpa.ca/regulatory/act-bylaws-rules.
Comments or questions
about this article?
Contact the professional conduct department
at [email protected].
604.708.4200
silverbulletshredding.com
38 CPABC in Focus • July/August 2018