The word ethics can have many different meanings for many different people.

Some
may say it is a feeling of what is right and what is wrong, or what is socially acceptable. Others
may say it has to do with their religious beliefs, or what the laws of society are. Everyone has
ethics, but the perspective varies from person to person. Some people have strong ethics that they
will follow no matter what the situation is, and others may not stay true to their ethics when they
are in tough situations and they will rationalize them. I believe it is easiest to see a persons true
ethics when they are in tough situations and under pressure.

My personal ethics have stemmed from my family and upbringing, as well as my

religious beliefs. My parents have always done exceptionally well at teaching me to recognize
right from wrong. They are prime examples of honest and ethical people. I am part of the
Christian religion, and believe in the bible, which states So in everything, do to others what you
would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Even though everyone
makes mistakes, I am always aiming to do what is right for the sake of the greater good of
people, as well as for the sake of my guilty conscience.

We are constantly challenged to test our ethics. It may be having the opportunity to cheat
on a test, steal from someone, or be dishonest for any reason. Ethics can be challenged anywhere,
at home, at the store, at school, or at work. I have worked at a car dealership for about a year
now, and I think this industry is one of the greatest examples of demonstrating personal ethics.
The salesmens job is to sell as many cars as they can, to earn commission. Sometimes this
causes them to be somewhat dishonest about some of the cars they are selling. In the service
department, I see them being dishonest to customers all the time about what is wrong with their

car, as well as costs of labor and parts. This is an example of how greed can affect personal
ethics.

I have seen and heard of many instances in business where companies adjust their
financial reporting to make themselves appear better. I have also heard of instances where just
one or two people who work for the company are dishonest to better their wallet. I used to not
understand how it was possible for companies or individuals to get away with fraudulent
reporting for long periods of time without getting caught. Since taking this accounting course, I
now realize how easy fraudulent financial reporting within a company can be if the company
does not follow the internal control procedures.

Financial reporting and personal ethics have much to do with each other. I believe it is
important when hiring someone to work for a company that smart hiring practices are followed.
The employer should try to hire someone with strong personal ethics, but also always follow the
proper internal control procedures as an extra precaution.

In conclusion, ethics can mean many different things and be perceived differently by
different people. A persons upbringing, religious beliefs, and sense of what is right or wrong all
play a factor in how their ethics are shaped. Someones ethics can greatly affect the companys
business, so it is always important to follow proper internal control procedures to prevent any
damage to the business.