MANAGING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND INDEPENDENCE

Course short description

This course examines how conflicts of interest arise in professional practice and how they can be identified, evaluated, and managed to preserve objectivity and public trust. It provides practical guidance through scenarios, case studies, and applied examples relevant to accountants, tax practitioners, BAS agents, and auditors.

Course objectives

• Explain the nature and sources of conflicts of interest in professional practice.
• Identify actual, perceived, and potential conflicts in real-world scenarios.
• Apply professional judgment to assess threats to objectivity.
• Evaluate appropriate responses to conflicts, including disclosure and safeguards.
• Understand how independence underpins trust in the profession.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognise different types of conflicts of interest.
• Distinguish between actual, perceived, and potential conflicts.
• Assess the impact of conflicts on professional objectivity.
• Apply structured approaches to conflict identification and evaluation.
• Explain why managing conflicts is fundamental to professional integrity.