Fellow auditors, I've got a situation that's bugging me ethically. Client wants me to audit their Duke Energy bills, but during the initial review I noticed some rate optimization opportunities that would directly hurt a competitor's client in the same building complex. The CUBA ethics guidelines talk about confidentiality but this feels like a gray area. Has anyone dealt with something similar? I want to do right by my client but also maintain professional integrity with other auditors in the field.
CUBA Code of Ethics - gray area on competitor info?
Greg, I think you're overthinking this one. Your duty is to your client, period. If you found legitimate savings on their Duke bills, that's what they're paying you for. The fact that it might affect another auditor's client isn't your concern - each auditor should be finding the best deals for their own clients. That's how competition works in this business.
I disagree with Angela here. The CUBA code specifically mentions maintaining collegial relationships with other professionals. If you know your recommendation will directly harm another auditor's client, maybe there's a way to approach this more collaboratively? Could you reach out to the other auditor and discuss the situation? Transparency builds trust in our profession.
Terry raises a good point but I'm with Angela on this. We're not charity workers - we're running businesses. If the other auditor missed an opportunity that you caught, that's on them. Your client deserves the best representation possible. Just document everything properly and make sure your recommendation is technically sound and compliant with Duke's tariff structure.
Here in Chicago with ComEd we see this all the time in mixed-use buildings. I've found the best approach is to focus solely on your client's situation. If another auditor's client gets hurt by your legitimate recommendations, that's the market at work. However, I would suggest being extra thorough in your documentation to show you followed proper procedures.
Thanks for all the input folks. After thinking it through, I'm going to proceed with the audit and make my recommendations based solely on my client's best interests. Yuri's point about documentation is well taken - I'll make sure everything is bulletproof. Sometimes we make these ethical dilemmas more complicated than they need to be.
Good call Greg. At the end of the day, ethical practice means doing thorough, honest work for your client. If that happens to reveal opportunities that others missed, that's just good auditing. The market will sort itself out. Just keep your CUBA certification current and follow the technical standards we all agreed to uphold.
This thread highlights why continuing education is so important for CUBA members. These gray areas come up regularly and having a solid foundation in both technical skills and professional ethics helps navigate them. Greg handled this the right way - seek input from peers, think it through, then act in your client's best interest while maintaining professional standards.