American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Practice Exam

True or False: Members have a responsibility solely to their clients.

1. True

2. False

3. Only in financial matters

4. Only in auditing matters

The correct answer is: False

The correct answer highlights that members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants have responsibilities that extend beyond solely their clients. CPAs have a duty to the public interest, which includes a commitment to ethical standards, compliance with regulations, and upholding the integrity of the profession. While serving clients is a significant part of a CPA's role, this service should not come at the expense of ethical behavior or undermining public trust in the profession. CPAs are also obligated to consider the impact of their work on the wider community, including stakeholders like investors, regulators, and society at large. Furthermore, there are various professional standards and codes of conduct that emphasize this broader responsibility, ensuring that members maintain professional integrity and objectivity not only in their client dealings but also in their overall role as trusted financial advisors and auditors. This multilateral obligation reasonates throughout the responsibilities that CPAs must uphold, making the assertion that their responsibility is solely to their clients inaccurate.