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Bulletin HASKINS & SELLS 93 Concerning Expenses THE attitude of the firm in the matter of accountants' expenses is expressed in the "Suggestions for Professional Conduct" as follows: "It is the desire of the firm that members of the staff shall travel and live while on out of town engagements in a manner befitting their professional standing. At the same time, since expenses are incurred for account of clients, it is necessary that expenses be kept at a minimum consistent with such status. The accountant should live comfortably and well without being extravagant." What constitutes a manner befitting professional standing may be a matter of opinion. It is also conceivable that opinions may differ on the subject. But it is doubtful if any one will disagree with the statement that the standards of living of the professional man should be equal to those of the average business man. The business man of today requires at least that he shall have a decent home, with a good bed, in order that he may have proper rest, a bath in order that he may keep clean, proper and wholesome food, which is conducive to health and the generation of physical and mental energy, presentable clothing in order that he may conform to the custom of his class and, further, that his clothing shall be kept in proper condition. Granting that the professional man is at least on a par with the business man, it must be assumed that he will maintain such standards of living. If these are his standards of living while at home, he is entitled to them when abroad. Such then is the standard which the professional accountant may reasonably be expected to maintain while away from his home on engagements for clients. But the conditions of obtaining shelter and food differ in different localities and as among different hostelries. In some localities there is no choice as to hotels or prices. In some hotels there is no choice as to rooms or accommodations. Where such conditions prevail the accountant is forced to accept things as he finds them and the client presumably will be satisfied with the arrangements. While the client has an obligation to provide the accountant with decent hotel accommodations, the accountant also has a duty to exercise discrimination and judgment in the selection of his accommodations if the opportunity is presented. A room with bath and a good bed are undoubtedly essential to his comfort, but there is apparently no reason why, if the conditions are such that he spends only his sleeping hours in his room, he should have one of the most desirable rooms in the house, perhaps in the front overlooking a park. Or if by making proper inquiry when engaging accommodations a single room with a shower bath, which would be just as satisfactory as a double room with a tub, could be obtained at a cheaper rate, there seems to be no reason why such procedure should not be followed. The same would naturally apply where by taking a room by the week, providing the probable length of stay warrants such negotiations, a better rate could be obtained. Such methods are not beneath the dignity of the accountant. They prove conclusively that he is living up to the high ideals of his profession which make it incumbent upon him at all times to exercise his best ability in the interest of his clients. It is usually safe to hazard the guess when a man is seen in the dining car of a train eating through an à la carte menu from soup to nuts that someone else ultimately is going to pay the bill. There is no reason why an accountant traveling and eating at the expense of a client should
Object Description
Title |
Concerning expenses [News items] |
Author |
Anonymous |
Subject |
Expense accounts |
Personal Name |
Rossetter, George Washington |
Citation |
Haskins & Sells Bulletin, Vol. 04, no. 10 (1921 October 15), p. 93-94 |
Date-Issued | 1921 |
Source | Originally published by: Haskins & Sells |
Type | Text |
Collection | Deloitte Digital Collection |
Digital Publisher | University of Mississippi Libraries. Accounting Collection |
Date-Digitally Created | 2009 |
Identifier | HS Bulletin 4-p93 |