Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 193A - Accountancy Examining Board
Chapter 13 - Rules of Professional Ethics and Conduct
Rule 193A-13.1 - Applicability

(1) The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct is based upon the premise that the reliance of the public in general and of the business community in particular on sound financial reporting and on the implication of professional competence inherent in the authorized use of a board-regulated title relating to the practice of public accountancy imposes on persons engaged in such practice certain obligations both to their clients and to the public. These obligations, which the rules of professional ethics and conduct are intended to enforce where necessary, include the obligation to maintain independence of thought and action and a continued commitment to learning and professional improvement, to observe applicable generally accepted accounting principles and generally accepted auditing standards, to promote the public interest through sound and informative financial reporting, to hold the affairs of clients in confidence, and to maintain high standards of personal conduct in all professional activities in whatever capacity performed.

(2) In addition to the rules specifically enumerated herein, and only to the extent applicable to certificate holders' and licensees' respective scope of practice, all certificate holders and licensees are obligated to comply with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and rules specifically enumerated herein, the rules specifically enumerated herein prevail.

(3) The rules of professional ethics and conduct apply to all professional services performed by all CPAs and LPAs, whether or not they are engaged in the practice of public accountancy, except where the wording of a rule clearly indicates that the applicability is specifically limited to the practice of public accountancy.

(4) A CPA or an LPA engaged in the practice of public accountancy outside the United States will not be subject to discipline by the board for departing, with respect to such foreign practice, from any of the board's rules of professional ethics and conduct, so long as the CPA's or LPA's conduct is in accordance with the standards of professional conduct applicable to the practice of public accountancy in the country in which the CPA or LPA is practicing. However, even in such a case, if a CPA's or an LPA's name is associated with financial statements in such manner as to imply that the CPA or LPA is acting as an independent public accountant and under circumstances that would entitle the reader of the financial statement to assume that United States practices are followed, the CPA or LPA will comply with applicable generally accepted engagement standards and applicable generally accepted accounting principles.

(5) A CPA or an LPA may be held responsible for compliance with the rules of professional ethics and conduct by all persons associated with the accountant in the practice of public accounting who are either under the accountant's supervision or are licensees, partners or shareholders in the accountant's practice.

(6) CPAs and CPA firms exercising a practice privilege in Iowa or for a client with a home office in Iowa are subject to the professional standards set forth in this chapter.

(7) These rules complement the grounds for discipline set out in 193A-Chapter 14.