Almost half of accountants have admitted that their senior colleagues have deliberately made decisions based on a commercial result over an ethical objection, according to research by www.careersinaudit.com.

The study revealed that nearly one-in-two accountants’ bosses in accountancy firms have pressurised them to ignore necessary adjustments to client accounts.  It found that 12% of accountants admitted that this had happened to them personally, whilst a further 30% confessed to knowing other accountants who had been faced with the same dilemma.

The study found that part of the problem may lie with the issue that accountancy firms do not provide an environment which protects the whistleblower.

It found that when it comes to punishment, 39% of accountants believe that anyone who signs off deliberately misleading accounts should be banned from practising as an accountant, whilst 10% held a more draconian view believing that a prison sentence should be enforced.

The study found that 46% of accountants deem their profession as the most trustworthy compared to other professions in the financial services and legal sector.

Max Williamson, chief executive Careers in Audit, says: “Accountancy firms need to be doing more to encourage employees to report any malpractices of colleagues, senior staff and even clients, without feeling their job or personal reputation is at risk.”