The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct is a collection of codified statements issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that outline a CPA's ethical and professional responsibilities. The code establishes standards for auditor independence, integrity and objectivity, responsibilities to clients and colleagues and acts discreditable to the accounting profession. The AICPA is responsible for drafting, revising and reissuing the code annually, on June 1. The current Code is available at the AICPA Web site. For older versions of the Code, see the links below. History Joseph Edmund Sterrett outlined the debate and issues in setting up a Code of Professional Conduct in his address to the annual meeting of the American Association of Public Accountants in 1907 The earliest "official" version of the code of professional conduct among American accountants was issued by the American Institute of Accountants on April 9, 1917. Notable sections Section 51 - Preamble The opening principle of the code is that membership, and therefore adherence, to the code is voluntary. This means that an accountant is never under a legal responsibility to adhere to the code, and can renounce the code and membership in the AICPA at any time. Section 101 - Independence Section 101 sets forth the various requirements to establish auditor independence and conditions that nullify it. Knowingly allowing a member who is not independent to continue to work on an engagement can result in disciplinary action from the AICPA, including possible revocation of the members status as a CPA. Generally, the following actions will impair auditor independence: Authorizing, executing or consummating a transaction, or otherwise exercising authority on behalf of a client or having the authority to do so. Preparing source documents, in electronic or other form, evidencing the occurrence of a transaction. Having custody of client assets. Supervising client employees in the performance of their normal recurring activities. Determining which recommendations of the member should be implemented. Reporting to the board of directors on behalf of management. Serving as a client's stock transfer or escrow agent, registrar, general counsel or its equivalent. Establishing or maintaining internal controls, including performing ongoing monitoring activities. Auditor independence is impaired if a member on the engagement team has a direct or material indirect financial interest in the client. Member's on the engagement team are not allowed to be on the board of trustees of a trust that owns, or has committed to owning