Ethics in life

Internal Auditor, Feb, 2004 by Geoff Atwater

"The Critical Role of Ethics," by Marianne Jennings (December 2003), presents an intriguing concept that financial collapse begins with a severe ethics erosion.

I agree that [the concept of] ethics is not difficult and that the answers are obvious, certainly as they relate to corporate financial reporting. The issue is that ethics cannot be imposed; it must already be within a person. My observation from investigation activity is that the people who violate the ethical code can cite chapter and verse; they know the answers, they just don't feel it applies to them.

The utopian solution may be to have some type of indicator to sort those people who merely comply with ethics from those who ethically live all aspects of their lives.

GEOFF ATWATER, CIA, CPA

Senior Project Manager

Financial Planning & Analysis

United Space Alliance

Houston, Texas

Geoff.P.Atwater@usa-spaceops.com