What is Wrong with Our Accountant?
Abstract
This critical incident describes a scenario in which Amy and Dave Thompson, founders of a small food manufacturing startup, experience several tax and compliance issues and begin to question the professional competence and character of their Certified Professional Accountant (CPA), Bradley Smith. The critical incident illustrates the challenges of managing the accounting, tax, and business compliance work of a startup enterprise as well as the need to have professional support. Key themes of the critical incident include agency problems and related risks, and crisis decision-making. The critical incident illustrates the need for business owners to mitigate agency risks associated with contracting professional service providers.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Financial Literacy and Behavior
Accounting and Financial Management
Ethics in Business and Education
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of critical incidents
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 117–117
- Publication date
- 20 January 2026
- Language
- EN