Leight Ann Walker, Staff Account
1. In your opinion, did Vaughn overreact to Walker’s admission that she had been untruthful regarding the CPA exam? If so, how would you have dealt with the situation if you had been in Vaughn’s position? How would you have dealt with the situation if you had been in Roberts’ position?
Answer:
It seems that both the office managing partner and the supervisor both acted
somewhat hastily in their treatment of the new employee. Given the new employee’s otherwise excellent performance on her first assignment, her decision to not disclose that she had sat for the CPA exam (because she was afraid that she had not passed the exam), should have been used as a teachable moment about integrity and the need to disclose information even if it is potentially bad.
If I were the supervisor, I would have given the new employee the opportunity to explain her actions. If the firm had an established policy for responding to this sort of minor infraction, it would be appropriate for her supervisor to report the infraction.
Perhaps the new employee could benefit from additional training or a better understanding of what is expected from employees in terms of disclosure.
At the same time, it seems reasonable that the new employee would expect that the firm could get confirmation that she sat for the CPA exam (if not perhaps the results).
That expectation would not give the new employee any reason to deny that she took the exam.
2. Vaughn obviously questioned Walker’s personal integrity. Is it possible that one can fulfill the responsibilities of a professional role while lacking personal integrity? Why or why not?
Answer :
It is not possible for one to fulfill the responsibilities of a professional role while lacking personal integrity. Examples like this were the type of people that were involved in the Enron case. The accountants and employees were acting
professional but, lacked personal integrity by scheming to falsify financial data. I believe that for one to be professional, a person must have strong integrity so they always do the
