Stop checking boxes and start using your code of ethics to differentiate your business from the competition.

In a competitive market, every company is looking for any way to differentiate itself from its competition. While we often look to new markets and data for a competitive advantage, ethics can be the factor that makes the biggest difference to customers, employees, and the public at large. Using surveys, research, case studies, and examples, this course will explore why the CPA credential and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct are so different. We will discuss why CPAs are in a unique position of trust and how this can put their companies ahead.
The course delves into the critical intersection of regulatory frameworks and corporate values, highlighting the ways a deeply ingrained ethical culture mitigates organizational risk while simultaneously enhancing brand reputation, attracting top-tier talent, and fostering deep consumer trust. The content provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms necessary to build top-down ethical leadership and seamlessly align ambitious business goals with stringent regulatory expectations. By reframing integrity as a core business strategy, this course illustrates how a proactive commitment to doing the right thing translates directly into sustainable growth, market resilience, and a distinct competitive edge.
Who Should Attend:
Any CPA who faces ethical dilemmas in their day-to-day experiences.

CPA, CFP, CLU, CPCU, MST, MBA
David Peters is the Founder and Owner of Peters Professional Education in Richmond, VA. He is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) with Peters Financial LLC. He brings over 20 years of experience in financial services, including three years in the hedge fund industry and six years in insurance. David was the first Chief Financial Officer of Compare.com, where he served for more than three years. He holds four master’s degrees, contributes frequently to professional publications, and is a nationally recognized CPE instructor and discussion leader for Surgent seminars and a former instructor for Don Farmer. David received the AICPA Outstanding Facilitator Award in 2021, 2023, and 2024 as well as Surgent's Outstanding Discussion Leader awards in 2019 and 2022. He also co-authored the Virginia CPA Ethics course in 2018, 2019, and 2020, which is a requirement for all CPAs licensed in Virginia. Through Peters Professional Education, David is the author and instructor for over 125 recorded on-demand CPE courses and leads private trainings, in-person tax seminars, and quarterly live tax update webinars. His areas of instruction include accounting, finance, insurance, financial planning, and ethics, and he regularly teaches professionals across the United States.