Making Disciplinary Information about Professional Accountants Available to the Public in Ontario*

Abstract

The literature notes popular perceptions that accounting scandals are on the rise and that the accounting profession has a trust deficit. Following the unification of accounting designations in Canada in 2014, this paper draws on legitimacy theory and the practices of other professional bodies to examine how the accounting profession in Ontario communicates its accountability regime to build public trust and protect the interests of lay clients. It has been suggested that previous accounting disciplinary regimes lacked transparency to communicate member offenses to the public and thus protected members from public scrutiny. This study reveals that the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario has evolved its public awareness regime to create easier public access to member disciplinary details, thus engaging both pragmatic and moral legitimacy. However, more needs to be done to ensure consistency with the public interest objectives of maintaining public trust, transparency, and public awareness.