ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Ethical conflicts and dilemmas
An accountant employed by Zenco is asked by the managing director to give a confidential list of Zenco's customers to a friend who runs a competing firm. The accountant refuses. Which statement BEST describes the conflict faced?
The conflict is between confidentiality and an instruction from a senior manager, and it is resolved by upholding confidentiality. Giving customer data to a competitor serves no legal, professional or public interest purpose, so the accountant's refusal is correct.
- AA conflict between the duty of confidentiality and loyalty to a senior manager's instruction, resolved by upholding confidentiality because no legal or professional right or duty to disclose existsCorrect
- BA conflict between objectivity and professional competence, resolved by seeking further training
- CA conflict between the public interest and confidentiality, resolved by disclosing the list to the regulator
Explanation
Customer data is confidential and no legal or professional duty or right permits disclosure to a competitor. The accountant's duty of confidentiality outweighs the instruction. The other options misdescribe the principles involved, as no public interest disclosure or competence issue arises.
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