FORMATION OF THE ETHICS OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS FROM A MORAL STANDPOINT: ANALYSIS OF DECISIVE FACTORS AND THEIR INFLUNCE

Economic decision-making by enterprise owners, potential investors and the managers and technologists of an organisation rely on information supplied by accountants. Insufficient or inappropriate understanding of the norms of ethics by accountants or individuals acting in their environment leads to the formation of accountants ’ unethical behaviour and the problems of accounts handling and finance management. This study analysed the models of professional ethical behaviour presented in scientific literature and used for empirical studies as well as the possibility of their application during an assessment of accountants’ professional ethics in the context of their virtues and environment, selected the virtues of accountants and environmental factors having an influence on accountants ’ motivation to behave ethically/unethically and evaluated the importance of these factors for the ethical behaviour of professional accountants. An analytical study design was used in order to develop a theory-based framework. Using Rest’s model of executives ’ ethical behaviour, we analysed the impact of personal moral identification, business environment and the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants on accountants ’ professional ethics. In order to establis