If you are an in demand accountant, should you simply charge the highest fee possible and

not even worry about perceived value?

No. Even if I am an in demand accountant and I am able to provide high quality services, I will
choose not to charge the highest fee possible to my client. As a professional, I should be
aware of my clients’ perceived value. If I know that my services will meet my clients’ needs
and expectations, I can probably charge high fees but it should always depend on what type
of service I performed. My main concern is my clients’ satisfaction on the quality of my service
and not on the fees that I will get. If there were opportunities where I can charge high fees,
maybe, I will grab it but at the same time, I will also consider if I can meet or even exceed my
clients’ expectations. If not, or I am in doubt of the outcome, I will charge my clients with the
amount that I deserve. By these, I can make stronger client relationship.

An auditor says that he travels first class, stays on the concierge floor of the best hotels and
prefers limousines over taxis. He believes that he is worth it and as long as he is honest about
it, the client should be billed for his normal travel preferences.

The client should pay your travel expenses such as transportation, lodging and meals. This is
based on your agreement or consulting contract. It is good to be honest about your travel
expenses that the client will reimburse. On the other hand, it is not ethical to bill your client high
amounts just because of your own preference or interest. Expenses should just contain those
that are essential and needed for the conduct of your service and not those who only satisfy
your own wants. In order to make a good impression to your clients, you should not abuse and
let the clients be billed for your preferences.

A consultant is seeing three clients on a certain trip. He says that if he attempts to prorate the
expenses, their accounting systems will question the charges, however, if he simply bills each
one for the entire airfare and lodging, there will not be a single question. He is asking if h
shouldn't make it easier on himself and on the clients and bill each of them for 100% since he
has to visit each one anyway.

It will be unfair for the clients if they will be billed 100% each while in fact, not the entire
expenses is for them. Though the accounting system may question the charges if the
consultant billed them prorata, it is still be the best course of action for this situation. Maybe,
there should also be evidences that will satisfy the charges of each client. Another thing that
will be a conflict if each client will be billed 100% of the expense is the amount that the
consultant will get from the reimbursement of his clients. He will get 200% of his actual
expenses. It is obvious that the consultant was triggered by his self-interest if he does not bill
the clients prorata.
A competitor of one of the auditor's largest clients wants to hire the auditor because his
reputation has been associated with his client's success. Is there any problem with taking on
competitive organizations?

An auditor may be involved in conflict of interest between two clients. Although he could take
on competitive organizations and he can successfully manage both, in the end, it will be best
if the clients will be given to different auditors. Taking on competitive organizations may raise
many conflicts including risk in confidentiality. Those practices that are implemented to one
client may also be adapted to the competitors’ reports. This will also affect the objectivity of
the auditor, as he will give more effort to the one that gives him more benefits.

A client offers the consultant first-class airfares to visit its European offices. The consultant
says that he can use his free airline mileage to take his entire family and by cashing in the
first-class tickets, pay for their food, lodging and recreation. He believes there is no reason to
explain all this to the client since he considers it his personal business.

The free airline mileage offered by the client is reserved for business-related only. First of all,
it is unquestionable why the consultant will take his entire family in his trip. The offer is given
by the client and it is up to the consultant on how he will use it for the ease of your work. But,
it is not right to just use it for your own benefits considering the fact that you will also take your
entire family that is not related to the purpose of your trip. Secondly, the expenses shouldered
by the client do not include spending on recreations. Take note that the primary purpose of
the trip is to visit the client’s European offices and not to relax. Once that the client knows all
of this, whether by his own explanation or not, it is still be a negative impression and it will
affect the reputation of the consultant.