Influence of perceived economic dilemma on ethical choices of auditors

This paper is an in-depth analysis of the pressures that come upon the auditors in public practice and corporate organisations. Struggle is the meaning of life. When you try to solve one problem you tend to complicate others. Several literature and previous were reviewed, the majority of them with discovery and strong perception that ethical dilemmas involved choosing powerful seemingly ‘justifiable’ non-ethical considerations over strict ethical choices. Such is sometimes the economic dilemma created when auditors are being accountable for their actions. The auditors are sometimes confronted with conflict of interest as considered in most literature reviewed. The TP (Temporary Predictive Behaviour) Cognitive Model with Moral Seduction Theory also forms part of the analysis in this paper. This economic dilemma faced is prop out of fright of the “self-fulfilling prophecy effect” which was further described as the auditor’s fear to precipitate client failure after the release of a warning signal because of its impact on current and potential investors, creditors, suppliers, and customers. The paper concluded that the eventual evaluation of the auditors is vital to the investment decision of the clients’ financial statement users and poses a danger to the continued existence of the client. The study further recommended action that may provide greater economic incentives for the auditor to conduct an ethical audit.