Professional ethics of accountants in the context of ukraine’s transition to international accounting and financial reporting standards

In the context of global trends towards increasing the level of transparency and openness in company reporting, the role and significance of professional ethics for accounting staff is growing. A catalyst for these processes is also Ukraine’s transition to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which likewise put forth requirements for the professional ethics of accountants’ activities. The article highlights the key principles of professional conduct for accountants and related professions (auditors, tax specialists). It outlines the key advantages of ethical business conduct for professional accountants. Among these are noted benefits: building reputation and trust, minimizing the risk of fraud and unethical actions, improving relations with stakeholders, protecting business and company interests, and supporting long-term business sustainability. The article analyzes the main challenges facing Ukrainian companies during the transition to the IFRS system: methodological differences and difficulties in the valuation of assets, revenues, and expenditures; the complexity of cash flow discounting methodologies; a personnel deficit; the need for additional investment and adjustment of specialized software; and existing discrepancies between tax and financial accounting. Basic requirements for the ethics of accounting staff during the transition to IFRS are outlined. These include professional competence and due care, objectivity and independence, confidentiality, responsibility for the quality of reporting, and the expansion of the professional communication sphere. Despite these challenges and difficulties, the process of further unification and harmonization of national Accounting Standards (P(S)BO) and international accounting and financial reporting standards is inevitable and necessary for the country and domestic business entities. It is determined that the increased use of digital leverage in the field of accounting and reporting poses new requirements and challenges the professional conduct of accountants. Under conditions of accounting digitalization, professional ethics transforms into a key tool for achieving business transparency, accountability, and the necessary balance between its interests and those of its stakeholders. Keywords: accounting, reporting, standards, responsibility, accounting staff, professional activity, digitalization.