ACCOUNTANTS are at the centre of corruption and embezzlement of funds in most public and private companies, acting auditor-general Rheah Kujinga has said.
Kujinga, who was speaking at the ACCA graduation ceremony at Premier Business School (PBS), said it was important for accountants and auditors to do their work in an ethical manner and avoid creative accounting which bled countries in lost taxes.
“We have many scandals in the private and public sectors, some perpetrated by qualified accountants, believe me, I have seen many of these in my line of work. We don’t expect that from you as a product of PBS and as an ACCA professional,” she said.
Since taking over the reins in an acting capacity from Mildred Chiri, the former auditor-general, Kujinga has produced audit reports which expose serious rot in government institutions where taxpayers’ money vanishes into thin air without consequences for wrongdoers.
Kujinga said if accountants failed to act professionally and within ethical confines, their actions threatened economic recovery and jobs.
“We expect to see you making a difference in the economy as you assist your current and future employers to survive and thrive. Do not drag the profession into disrepute because of a small bribe,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, PBS founder Ngoni Robins said ethics in the accounting profession were at the crux of nation building and growth of the economy.
A qualified chartered accountant, Robins said as PBS grew from a three-student college to its present status where 30 accountants graduated in one night, ethics, persistence and belief had kept the organisation
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going.
“At one point we had more lecturers than students, we could not pay our rent, which resulted in us being locked out at times by the landlord.
“Today we are proud as PBS to be sending out graduates who become beckons of professional and ethical conduct in the accounting field,” he said.
