The case of the infertile idea
Ethics
Charles Selcer, CPA, MBA | December 2022/January 2023 Footnote
Editor's note: Updated November 29, 2022
Cisco Kidd (who was a friend of mine) is the controller at the Obscurity Bank & Trust of Fertile, Minnesota, an FDIC-insured institution. He passed the CPA exam in 2018 but did not obtain a valid certificate from the Minnesota Board of Accountancy; he has never practiced as a CPA in public accounting and, heretofore, has not presented himself as a CPA.
Recently, Cisco’s boss told him to sign the FRY reports that will be submitted to the Fed. Cisco signed them, “Cisco Kidd, CPA.”
Q. Is this unethical?
A. Yes. Cisco never obtained a valid certificate under MN 326A.10(e) Unlawful Acts, so he cannot use the abbreviation “CPA.”
Ethics Corner
22WA-3874: The Civil Advantage: Ethics and Civility in Disquieting Times (Webinar)
Dec. 17 | 10–11:40 a.m. | 2 Ethics
22SR-P019: K2’s Ethics and Technology (Virtual)
Dec. 20 | 1–4:30 p.m. | 4 Ethics
22WX-2916: Ethics: Human Capital Reporting and DEI for Accountants (Webinar)
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Jan. 18 | 11 a.m. –1 p.m. | 2 Ethics
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