Overview

In 2024, a two-part webinar series featuring Judge Dennis Davis and Caryn Maitland explored the profound ethical responsibilities of tax practitioners and accountants. The series delved into the critical role these professionals play as moral agents in society, shaping the integrity of our communities and contributing to nation-building through ethical tax practice.

The webinars addressed the complex balance between legal compliance and ethical imperatives, providing participants with tools to navigate ethical dilemmas in their work. From promoting fiscal citizenship to preventing fraud and money laundering, the series highlighted the far-reaching responsibilities of tax professionals. Practical guidance on ethical leadership, reflective practice, and accountability was provided to ensure that professionals upheld the highest standards in their practice and contributed meaningfully to a prosperous South Africa.

Webinar Content

Part 1

• What it means for tax professionals to be moral agents in society.
• The role of tax professionals in advancing fiscal citizenship and nation-building for the common good of South Africa.
• Ethical considerations in tax practice: following the letter vs. the spirit of the law.
• Professional judgment in tax planning: navigating ethical challenges.
• The responsibility to role model ethical behavior for staff, taxpayers, and the broader community.
• Reflecting on and documenting ethical dilemmas experienced in tax practice.

Part 2

• Understanding value systems in personal, business, and professional ethics.
• Challenges faced by tax practitioners, including conflicts of interest and ethical fading.
• Developing reflective ethical practices and broadening awareness of ethical situations.
• Applying key ethical principles, such as integrity, objectivity, due care, and confidentiality.

Competencies Developed

By completing this two-part webinar series, participants:

• Strengthened Ethical Awareness: Gained a deeper understanding of the ethical dimensions in tax practice, enabling them to recognize their role as moral agents in society.
• Enhanced Professional Judgment: Developed the ability to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, balancing legal compliance with ethical imperatives in tax planning and decision-making.
• Improved Reflective Practice: Learned how to critically reflect on ethical challenges and document ethical dilemmas in a structured manner, ensuring accountability and transparency in their practice.
• Promoted Ethical Leadership: Acquired the tools and knowledge to role model ethical behavior, fostering integrity and responsibility within their teams and the broader community.
• Compliance and Reporting: Gained insight into reporting obligations such as NOCLAR (Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations) and the critical role of tax practitioners in preventing money laundering, fraud, and corruption.
• Applied Ethical Frameworks: Mastered the application of key ethical principles, including integrity, objectivity, due care, confidentiality, and professional behavior, in day-to-day tax practice.

Presenters

Judge Dennis Davis

Judge Dennis Davis was educated at Herzlia School, Universities of Cape town (UCT) and Cambridge. He began teaching at UCT in 1977 and was appointed to a personal chair of Commercial Law, in 1989. Between 1991 and 1997 he was Director of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies of the University of the Witwatersrand. He held joint appointment at Wits and UCT 1995 - 1997. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 1998 and as President of the Competition Appeal Court in 2000. Since his appointment to the Bench, he has continued to teach constitutional law and tax law at UCT where he is an Hon. Professor of law.
Dennis is a member of the Commission of Enquiry into Tax Structure of South Africa and was a Technical Advisor to the Constitutional Assembly where the negotiations for South Africa's interim and final constitutions were formulated and concluded. He hosted a TV programme, Future Imperfect which was an award winning current affairs programme between 1993-1998.

Caryn Maitland

Caryn is a qualified CA (SA and RA), who has lectured extensively at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (and other institutes) where she lectured Advanced Financial Accounting. Since then, Caryn has specialised in facilitating ethics conversations, keeping assurance practitioners up to date and unpacking legislation for the financial sector.

She has conducted independent workshops and seminars for professional accountants since 2006 on various topics and has consulted on several technical issues. Since January 2011, she has focused on her own business as technical freelance consultant and trainer to those working within the accounting profession. Caryn is a technical advisor to various SAICA Eastern Region Districts as well as serving on various SAICA committees, such as the SAICA Eastern Region Council.

Since 2018, Caryn has worked extensively with commerce and industry, assisting analysts, directors, and other users of financials to interpret, prepare, analyse and forecast based on the results of financial statements.

CPD

Attending this webinar and the successful completion of the online assessment will secure a certificate of completion for 4 hours of Tax CPD.

Event Investment

Webinar presented over 2 dates - 7 August 2024 (Part 1) and 13 August 2024 (Part 2): 

Free for Tax Technician, Tax Practitioner, Tax Accountant CPD subscribers and Practice Packages. Not a CPD subscriber yet? Click here to register now.

• Regular price: R595.00 (part 1 and 2)
• SAIT member special discounted rate: R475.00 (part 1 and 2)
• Group booking discounts available when you register for a group.

Payments and Cancellations

• All payments must be made by EFT or by credit card, at least three working days before commencement of an event.
• Kindly note that should payment not be received two days after the event, legal action will be taken.
• Proof of payment will be requested at registration if payment does not reflect in The Tax Faculty’s bank account.
• Only written notice of cancellation will be recognized.
• Conditions:
  • If the cancellation occurs more than four working days prior to the event no cancellation fee will be charged.
  • If the cancellation occurs less than four working days prior to the event, a 100% cancellation fee will apply.
• Delegates who book and fail to attend will be liable for the full event fee.
• The Tax Faculty’s liability in the case of an event being cancelled will be limited to a refund or credit of the event fee.
• Please click here for the full terms and conditions.