The report, The Accountancy Profession—Playing a Positive Role in Tackling Corruption, shows that a higher percentage of accountants in the workforce strongly correlates to better outcomes in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
The study also found the profession’s impact was significantly greater in G20 countries and member nations of the Financial Action Task Force.
Off the back of these key findings, IFAC chief executive Fayez Choudhury said accountants are central to fighting corruption and securing good governance.
“The accountancy profession is a crucial part of strong national governance architectures that confront corruption, in partnership with good government and strong businesses. And vitally, the study shows professional ethics, education and oversight – at the core of the global accountancy profession – are key to the profession’s positive impact in tackling corruption.”
Similarly, Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) chief executive Andrew Conway said it has been the association’s longstanding position that accountants are central to combating corruption.
“Corruption is an economic cancer, and this global report support our longstanding perspective that accountants can and do play a key role in combatting the disease,” he said.
“The report also highlights the significant importance of good governance across all organisations. The accounting profession’s skills ensure that accountants continue to play a pivotal role in the fight against corruption, but we acknowledge it’s not a solitaire battle to be won,” he said.
“Collaboration across all sectors of our economy to create a culture of highest standard governance is critical to success,” he added.
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