Learning from ethical violations in public accounting: A South African audit scandal and a firm’s transformation

This case provides students with an opportunity to examine ethical issues and challenges encountered in public accounting. This real-life case occurred in South Africa, where wide-spread corruption and unethical behavior severely affected a global accounting firm. Due to the resulting negative publicity, the firm suffered significant reputational damage and underwent investigations by the audit regulator and professional accounting society. Consequently, the firm initiated major transformations of management, governance, and audit quality procedures. Students are required to research and analyze issues involving the accounting firm’s South African activities. However, the matters addressed are universal and encountered by firms globally. The case learning objectives include improving understanding of the value of auditor independence, the importance of ethical behavior to a global firm’s reputation, ways to promote ethical conduct, and how professional skepticism can identify ethical misconduct. The case is designed for auditing, forensic accounting, international accounting, accounting policy, and ethics courses.