Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara has asked chartered accountants (CAs) to maintain a level of ethical conduct which goes even beyond the society’s law.

Speaking at an inaugural ceremony of an international conference on “Ethical Dimensions of Accounting Profession” here on Saturday, Mahara said unethical business practices involving professional accountants have increased, leading to a situation where questions can be raised on the credibility of the profession.

“The engagement of accounting professionals in various avenues ranging from audits to employment and business has made it very essential for the profession to maintain high ethical standards,” said Mahara. “It is a proven fact that responsible professionalism is not possible without employing ethical theories and principles which form the basis and foundation of the overall ethical structure.”

The one-day conference organised by Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) focused on contemporary and emerging issues on code of ethics and their impact on accounting profession in the South Asian region.

The programme also highlighted different countries’ experiences in ethical compliances. The conference ran three sessions—overview of ethics for professional accountants in practice and threats associated, overview of ethics for professional accountants in business and ethical compliance—country experiences in Saarc region.