Multinational corporations facing foreign market entry are often forced to make important changes in accounting control. Ethical accounting is essential to a healthy and profitable organization.The critique of accounting diversity is that it may cause detriment to an acquisition firm. Internal cost projections may be imprecise in estimate, if national market shifts subject the firm to rapid fluctuation in cash flows. Business accountants and other executives must take ethical measures to ensure that a company is not compromised in the process.
In 2008, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), allowed for combined audit of foreign companies offering shares in the United States. These new rules meet International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) board guidelines to accounting practice. For Chinese companies, this is a major change that has streamlined the traditional three part accounting process: Chinese (China GAAP), North American GAAP standards (US GAAP) and IFRS audit. Un-ethical or illegal conduct such as failure to pay taxes may result in serious penalties up to criminal conviction.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act offers unified ethical guidelines to standard accounting practice. Sarbanes-Oxley is consistent with U.S. accounting practices, as well as those of other market leaders such as China where international rules to ethical accounting have been incorporated as law by the Ministry of Finance. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is responsible for providing international guidelines to professional accountants under Sarbanes-Oxley. Sarbanes-Oxley reform supports further integration of international capital market rules, and most IASB standards. Evidence that ethical drivers to business strategy are key to successful market entry and the ongoing profitability of companies.