In the aftermath of crisis: The post-Enron implications for Spanish university accounting educators

• Published in: The European accounting review Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 429 - 439
• Main Authors: Gonzalo, José A., Garvey, Anne M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 01.01.2005; Taylor and Francis Journals; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Series: European Accounting Review
• Subjects: Accountability; Accountants; Accounting; Accounting education; Accounting standards; Area studies; Colleges & universities; Education; ethics; European studies; Financial crisis; Financial reporting; financial reporting standards; financial scandals; professional accountability; Professional ethics; Scandals; Spain; Teachers; Spain
• ISSN: 0963-8180; 1468-4497
• DOI: 10.1080/09638180500127791

This paper is a consideration of the role that ethics must play in accounting education followed by a set of implementation proposals. It is based on the lack of response by the profession in Spain, as in some other European countries, to the crisis produced by recent financial scandals, both at a national and international level. Three proposals are made in the paper to reintroduce ethics into accounting education. Firstly, a case is made for a more contextual learning of accounting standards. This would help to avoid teachers and future professionals becoming passive and blind adopters of accounting rules. Secondly, the paper advocates the introduction of ethical reasoning in all accounting courses, as the best way for students to understand that there is more to the preparation of accounts than just following accounting standards. Thirdly, the paper points critically to the lack of accountability by professionals who prepare financial statements in corporations and supports them being made more responsible for their actions. This set of proposals is seen to be consistent with the notion of an accounting profession that is ethical at an individual level and responsible at a social level.