LAC 46:XIX.1700. General

A. Preamble 1. The services usually and customarily performed by those in the public practice of accountancy involve a high degree of skill, education, trust, and experience which are professional in scope and nature. The use of professional designations carries an implication of possession of the competence associated with a profession. The public, in general, and the business community, in particular, rely on this professional competence by placing confidence in reports and other services of accountants. The public's reliance, in turn, imposes obligations on persons utilizing professional designations, both to their clients and to the public in general. These obligations include maintaining independence of thought and action; continuously improving professional skills; observing, where applicable, generally accepted accounting principles and generally accepted auditing standards; promoting sound and informative financial reporting; holding the affairs of clients in confidence; upholding the standards of the public accountancy profession; and maintaining high standards of personal and professional conduct in all matters affecting fitness to practice public accountancy. 2. The board has an underlying duty to the public to ensure that these obligations are met in order to achieve and maintain a vigorous profession capable of attracting the bright, young minds essential for adequately serving the public interest. 3. These rules of professional conduct are intended to have application to all kinds of professional services performed for the public in the practice of public accountancy, including but not limited to services relating to auditing; accounting; review and compilation services, tax services; management advisory and consulting services; and financial planning, and intended to apply as well to all certificate holders, whether or not engaged in the practice of public accounting, except where the wording of one of these rules of professional conduct clearly indicates that the applicability is more limited. 4. In the interpretation and enforcement of these rules, the board may consider relevant interpretations, rulings, and opinions issued by the boards of other jurisdictions, the Securities and Exchange Commission, recognized professional standard setting organizations, and appropriate committees of professional organizations, but will not be bound thereby. 5. All licensees and certificate holders shall comply with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct revised effective December 15, 2014, incorporated herein by reference in this rule. The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct may be found at the AICPA website, www.aicpa.org. The board’s rules of professional conduct shall prevail if a conflict exists between it and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. B. Definition. The following term has meaning which is specific to §1700-1707. Professional Services—services arising out of or related to the specialized knowledge or skills associated with certified public accountants e.g. matters of accounting and financial reporting, tax, finance, investment advice or financial planning, management, or consultation.