Professional Competence and Due Care

Following are excerpt from the IFAC Code regarding "Professional Competence and Due Care"

Professional Competence and Due Care 

130.1 The principle of professional competence and due care imposes the following obligations on all professional accountants: 

(a) To maintain professional knowledge and skill at the level required to ensure that clients or employers receive competent professional service; and

(b) To act diligently in accordance with applicable technical and professional standards when providing professional services. 

130.2 Competent professional service requires the exercise of sound judgment in applying professional knowledge and skill in the performance of such service. Professional competence may be divided into two separate phases: 

(a) Attainment of professional competence; and 

(b) Maintenance of professional competence. 

130.3 The maintenance of professional competence requires a continuing awareness and an understanding of relevant technical, professional and business developments. Continuing professional development enables a professional accountant to develop and maintain the capabilities to perform competently within the professional environment. 

130.4 Diligence encompasses the responsibility to act in accordance with the requirements of an assignment, carefully, thoroughly and on a timely basis. 

130.5 A professional accountant shall take reasonable steps to ensure that those working under the professional accountant’s authority in a professional capacity have appropriate training and supervision. 

130.6 Where appropriate, a professional accountant shall make clients, employers or other users of the  accountant’s  professional services aware of  the limitations inherent in the services.

Source : http://www.ifac.org/publications-resources/2012-handbook-code-ethics-professional-accountants