Accounting Ethics: Analyzing the Bobby Glick Case Study
This paper examines the ethical dimensions of the Bobby Glick case, in which a new accounting employee concealed that he had previously attempted — and failed — his CPA examination. Using three major ethical frameworks, the paper evaluates whether Glick's deception constitutes a moral violation. From a utilitarian perspective, no tangible harm resulted; from a deontological standpoint, the act of lying is inherently wrong regardless of outcome; and from a virtue ethics lens, the concealment reveals a troubling character flaw inconsistent with professional integrity. The paper also considers mitigating factors, including Glick's youth and inexperience, and closes with a broader reflection on professional ethics and moral agency in accounting.
- Introduction: The Glick Case and Its Ethical Stakes: Overview of Glick's deception and initial utilitarian framing
- Utilitarian and Consequentialist Analysis: Consequentialist view that outcomes justify Glick's concealment
- Deontological Perspective on Lying and Concealment: Deontological argument that lying is wrong regardless of outcome
- Virtue Ethics and Professional Character: Glick's character flaws revealed through virtue ethics lens
- Mitigating Factors and the Role of Professional Integrity: Youth, inexperience, and missed teachable moment considered
- Conclusion: Professional Ethics as Moral Agency: Professional integrity as moral obligation across all fields
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What makes this paper effective
- Applies three distinct ethical frameworks — utilitarian, deontological, and virtue ethics — systematically to a single case, allowing direct comparison of how each framework yields a different moral verdict.
- Balances the ethical critique of Glick's behavior with a fair-minded discussion of mitigating circumstances, avoiding one-sided moralizing.
- Grounds abstract ethical theory in concrete, relatable analogies (e.g., the orthopedic surgeon example), making philosophical concepts accessible and persuasive.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the technique of multi-framework ethical analysis: rather than committing to one moral theory, the author uses utilitarian, deontological, and virtue ethics lenses in sequence, explicitly contrasting their conclusions. This approach is standard in applied ethics writing and shows the student's ability to hold competing frameworks in tension while arriving at a reasoned overall judgment. Citations from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy lend authoritative philosophical grounding to each framework introduced.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens by presenting the least-damning interpretation of Glick's behavior (utilitarian), then methodically builds toward harsher ethical verdicts through deontological and virtue ethics analysis. A counterargument from Glick's perspective is embedded mid-paper before the virtue ethics critique, followed by mitigating factors and a closing analogy that generalizes the lesson to all professions. This structure — steelman, critique, nuance, generalize — is a hallmark of strong applied ethics writing.
Introduction: The Glick Case and Its Ethical Stakes
From a strictly utilitarian perspective, the scenario outlined in the Glick case may not appear especially morally questionable. Glick, as a new and untested employee fresh out of college, was naturally apprehensive about how his competency would be perceived. He studied, successfully passed his CPA exam, and acquitted himself admirably on the job. No one was harmed by his concealment; indeed, his firm benefited from having a highly competent employee who cared about his professional reputation.
However, viewing professional ethics from a purely utilitarian perspective is extremely problematic. Professional ethics by its nature assumes certain standards that professionals must uphold, even when the consequences are not harmful — and even when the consequences of an unethical action are arguably good (Driver, 2009). For example, someone without a CPA license could lie, obtain employment with a CPA firm, and perform wonderfully for ten years. This would still be wrong and unethical according to the standards of the profession, because when someone pays for the services of a CPA, that person should receive the services of a licensed CPA. Even if clients benefited from the work of the unlicensed practitioner, his actions would remain wrong.
References
Alexander, L., & Moore, M. (2012). Deontological ethics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2012/entries/ethics-deontological/
Driver, J. (2009). The history of utilitarianism. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2009/entries/utilitarianism-history/
Hursthouse, R. (2012). Virtue ethics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2012/entries/ethics-virtue/
Marcoux, A. (2008). Business ethics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/ethics-business/
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