Code Of Conduct
A “Code of Conduct for CA Students” has been established by the Institute’s Council and must be followed by students enrolled in chartered accounting courses. This code of conduct applies to all students enrolled in courses in chartered accountant, including those who have finished hands-on training. The following is the ‘Code of Conduct for CA Students’.
Preamble
The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, hereby prescribes the Code of Conduct to uphold decorum and discipline among the students of the Chartered Accountancy Course. When working with the members of the Institute and the remaining people in the society at large, it will be convenient to have in place the Code of Conduct to the students who are going through the practical training under the Chartered Accountancy Course as well as all those who join the Foundation course and the Intermediate/ Final Course besides those students who have already undertaken the practical training.
The Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988 (Regulation 66) specifically mentions that the Code of Conduct is applicable to the Students undergoing practical training in the course of Chartered Accountancy and prescribes the relevant steps to be taken in the event of breach of the same.
Interpretations:
In this Code of Conduct, unless otherwise stated,
- “Act” refers to the 1949 Chartered Accountants Act (XXXVIII of 1949), as amended from time to time.
- The term, “Regulations” refers to regulations made under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 “
- “Institute” means the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) formed as per the Chartered Accountants Act,1949.
- “Council” means the Council of the Institute.
- “Board of Studies (Academic and Students Skills Enrichment Board (Board of Studies-Operations))” is a non-standing Committee of the Council under Section 17(2) of the Act.
- The standing Committee of the Council is constituted under the Section 17(1) of the Act as Executive Committee. The standing Committee that is established in Section 17(1) of the Act is entitled as Examination Committee.
- “Principal” or “Employer” means a member who has the right to train in the practice Articled Assistants and Audit Assistants of the Society under the Regulations Act of Chartered Accountants, 1988.
- “Articled Assistant” means an articled assistant as mentioned in clause U) of sub-section (2) of Section 30 of the Act enrolled under articles by a member who is entitled to non professionals termed as an articled assistant under the Regulations;
- “Audit assistant” is an assistant working in audit service with a member entitled to train audit assistants in terms of the Regulations;
- “Accredited Institution” refers to the institution that is authorized by the Board of Studies to proceed with conducting classes of Chartered Accountancy students as per the guidelines issued, time to time.
1. General
Trainees who are registered under the process called articled / audit assistance under the provisions of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 / Regulations framed thereunder,(hereinafter referred to as “trainees” or “articled/ audit trainees”) should behave in accordance with the guidelines as in the following rules whilst undergoing a practical training as an articled / audit trainee under the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988.
The Code of Conduct would be applicable to all students whether in foundation, intermediate or even students already undertaking the final course and who have/ have not completed their articled training and hence and as such would be liable in case of mis-handling and/ or damaging any of the assets property/ infrastructure of ICAI or at the functions of ICAI or at any of its authorized Centers or venues (as the case may be). In addition such person(s) is also expected to demonstrate decency and decorum during his/her participation in programmes such as seminars, conferences, mock tests, ICITSS (IT & OC) & Adv ICITSS (Adv IT & MCS) or any other course/programme etc. that may be organized by the Institute or through regional councils/ branches.
2. Conduct of Articled/ Audit Assistant
An Articled/Audit Assistant should also adhere to the following values of the code of conduct:
i) An articled or audit assistant is required to serve the principal faithfully and diligently at all times while practicing accounting.
(ii) The articled/audit assistant is required to adhere to the Act’s and Regulations’ provisions whenever applicable, as well as the covenants specified in the Deed of Articles.
iii) It shall be the duty of the articled/ audit assistant to ensure the correctness and quality of work performed by him during any form of practical training both in the office of the Principal or the offices of any of the clients of the Principal.
(iv) There upon, the articled/ audit assistant shall not under any circumstances at any period during the continuance of his period of articleship, destroy, cancel, obliterate, spoil, embezzle, spend or take away with him/her copies of any books, papers, plans, documents, monies, stamps, hardware, software or chattels belonging to his Employer or to his personal representative/ assignees/ partner/ client that came into his possession or custody or control or to suffer another person to use the same without the specific authority of his employer.
(v) The articled/ audit assistant must at all times be disciplined and adhere to guidelines, rules and regulations provided by his /her employer not doing anything that will pile repute on his/ her employer or the profession in general.
(vi) The Articled/ audit assistant will also obey the lawful/sane instructions of his/her Employer and follow them and will not leave/will not take absence of the training of his/her Employer at any time during the said term without prior consent of his/her employer or partners but shall always during the said term is to behave with honesty and propriety.
(vii) The articled / audit assistant shall conduct himself as a responsible prospective member of the profession in his relations with his colleagues, staff members in his Employer office, Employers clients and their representatives, officials and employees in the institute wherever he/she represents his/her employer.
(viii) The articled/ audit assistant shall conduct himself/herself in a manner which shall show that he/ she is endowed with impeccable character and help him/her to uphold ethical principles and professional Code of Ethics
(ix) The articled/ audit assistant shall not obtain any monetary help or assistance or any form of gratification directly or indirectly from the clients of the Principal, their officials or representatives.
(x) Students must follow the formal dress code in accordance with local customs and culture while undergoing articled training. Students who are undergoing Orientation Course, Management and Communication Skills (MCS) course, Information Technology, Advanced Course are to observe discipline along with decorum as well as dress code (Advisory dress code is: Female students should wear sarees, salwar kurtas, or suits; male students should wear full-sleeved shirts and trousers. They will even be allowed to wear a suit and a tie when they are making an appearance before the appellate authority It is only the other appellants who have to wear stuff like suit and tie to make an appeal in the appellate authority).