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Professional Ethics: An Introduction to ESG

What CPAs need to know about ESG and why it matters

Created byGarth Sheriff
BeginnerUpdated Nov 4, 2022

What You'll Learn

  • check_circleUnderstand what ESG is. Why should CPAs be interested in ESG.
  • check_circleLearn about demystifying the common misperceptions about ESG
  • check_circleDetermine the standard-setting environment for ESG and sustainability accounting and determine who sets the standards and guidance.
  • check_circleIdentify that there will be management and auditing of these reports.
  • check_circleUnderstand what the term "Greenwashing" mean
  • check_circleAnalyze that there is a hierarchy within the standard-setting bodies.
  • check_circleUnderstanding why and how the accounting profession is actively involved in ESG
  • check_circleIdentify how environmental and social issues are interrelated and understand how to apply sustainability accounting.

About This Course

This engaging on-demand course will explore the origins, key definitions, concepts, and importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) for CPAs. ESG is a topic that evokes many opinions. CPAs will play a critical role in ESG in measurement and reporting. However, there are often misperceptions and a general lack of understanding of ESG. Therefore, it is paramount for CPAs to have a more robust knowledge of ESG as it relates to our profession and ethical responsibilities.

The course will feature the expertise of Dr. Leanne Keddie. Dr. Keddie is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She earned her Ph.D. in Accountancy from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal, QC. Her current research examines the use of ESG performance-based incentives in executive compensation contracts and, more broadly, sustainable corporate governance. She believes in the power of accounting to move the world towards sustainability.

Field of Study: Regulatory Ethics

Course Content

9 activities • 8 videos • duration: 1h 30m

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Introduction1 videos • 11 min
  • videocamESG Intro
    Duration 11:42
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The history of ESG and the accounting profession1 videos • 18 min
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Defining ESG, sustainability accounting and CSR1 videos • 12 min
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Understanding the standard setting environment for ESG and sustainability accounting1 videos • 20 min
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Understanding how to apply sustainability accounting - Part 11 videos • 3 min
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Understanding how to apply sustainability accounting - Part 21 videos • 7 min
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Understanding why and how the accounting profession is actively involved in ESG1 videos • 11 min
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Understanding why today's accounting professionals - both current and future professionals should stay up to date on ESG1 videos • 1 quiz • 4 min
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Final Assessment1 quiz

Your Instructors

Garth Sheriff

Founder of Sheriff Consulting

menu_book43 courses
star13,342 reviews

I am the founder of Sheriff Consulting which specializes in the development and delivery of accounting, auditing and foundational skill courses and workshops. Teaching and working with professionals in diverse and dynamic learning environments has been my passion and experience for over 10 years. As a qualified Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA), I work with finance and accounting professionals in both the U.S. and Canada to meet their training and development needs. My goal has always been to create an engaging and interactive learning environment. To help my own path of continual improvement in achieving this goal, I have also received training and worked as a professional actor. I am a member of ACTRA (the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) and a graduate in improvisation from the Second City Training Centre. http://sheriffconsulting.com/

Dr. Leanne Keddie

Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Sprott School of Business

Dr. Keddie is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She earned her Ph.D. in Accountancy from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal, QC. Her current research examines the use of ESG performance-based incentives in executive compensation contracts and, more broadly, sustainable corporate governance. She believes in the power of accounting to move the world towards sustainability.

Credit Information

Is this course eligible for my CPD requirements as a Canadian CPA?

Provincial regulators of CPAs in Canada do not require that independent providers of CPD be approved to offer courses. Instead, individual CPAs are responsible for assessing whether a CPD activity meets their requirements, and may take activities from any source provided those requirements are met.

Every course offered on LearnFormula is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, and advances learning objectives that are relevant to the responsibilities or professional competencies of Canadian CPAs. All activities on LearnFormula are quantifiable in terms of hours, and are also verifiable, in that users receive documented evidence of their attendance via a certificate of completion after finishing a course (and this certificate is stored by LearnFormula indefinitely). Nearly 100,000 Canadian CPAs successfully satisfy their CPD requirements via LearnFormula on an annual basis.

What Students Are Saying

4.6 out of 5
Student's Choice
65 reviews
  • KG
    Kathryn G.
    starstarstarstarstar

    A very good introduction to ESG, and an understanding of the different ways to look at it. Also the discussion on how CPA's can play an integral a role in this.

  • SL
    Sam L.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Very Good.

  • ME
    Monica E.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Yes this was very relevant to understanding ESG as our firm uses that term for Sustainability which I now know is incorrect.

  • ML
    Mohamed L.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Great course!

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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