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An investigation of ethical climate in a Singaporean accounting firm

Author

Listed:
  • William E. Shafer
  • Margaret C.C. Poon
  • Dean Tjosvold

Abstract

Purpose - The primary objective of this study is to examine the moderating influence of professional commitment (PC) on the associations among ethical climate, organizational‐professional conflict (OPC) and organizational commitment (OC) among public accountants. It aims to replicate recent findings on the relationships among ethical climate, OPC and OC. It also aims to extend prior research by investigating the association between ethical climate and both functional specialization and organizational rank in an accounting firm. Design/methodology/approach - The authors surveyed all professional employees in the Singapore office of an international accounting firm. Findings - Significant associations were found between ethical climate, OPC and OC. Participants' degree of affective commitment to their profession moderated the relationship between the public interest (benevolent/cosmopolitan) climate and perceived conflict and OC. Specifically, professionally committed employees reported less conflict and greater commitment when they felt the firm placed more emphasis on the public interest. These relationships were not present for employees with lower levels of professional commitment. It was also found that taxation specialists perceived the least emphasis in the firm on serving the public interest. Originality/value - No prior study has documented the moderating influence of affective professional commitment on the association between ethical climate and accountants' OPC or OC. This finding has important implications, suggesting that accounting firms' ability to retain professionally committed employees will depend in part on the degree to which the firm upholds professional ideals such as serving the public interest. The fact that tax specialists perceived less emphasis on serving the public interest than other functional areas implies that tax practices may be overemphasizing client advocacy at the expense of public service.

Suggested Citation

  • William E. Shafer & Margaret C.C. Poon & Dean Tjosvold, 2013. "An investigation of ethical climate in a Singaporean accounting firm," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 26(2), pages 312-343, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:aaajpp:v:26:y:2013:i:2:p:312-343
    DOI: 10.1108/09513571311303747
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alice Garcia-Falières & Olivier Herrbach, 2015. "Organizational and Professional Identification in Audit Firms: An Affective Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(4), pages 753-763, December.
    2. William Shafer, 2015. "Ethical Climate, Social Responsibility, and Earnings Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 43-60, January.
    3. Raghda Abulsaoud Ahmed Younis & Aida Said Moawad Elsaid, 2021. "Enhancing the In-Role Behaviour and Organizational Citizenship Behaviours in the Workplace: A Multidimensional View for the Role of Ethical Climate," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(12), pages 1-1, July.
    4. Ralph Adler & Gregory Liyanarachchi, 2020. "Towards measuring professionalism in accounting," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(3), pages 1907-1941, September.

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