Mr. Ronny Ko, CPA, CGA - February 24, 2015

Mr. Ronny Ko, CPA, CGA - February 24, 2015

Discipline Summary

February 24, 2015

Complaint

CGA-BC filed a complaint against Mr. Ronny Ko, CPA, CGA, with respect to his business, NumbersAgent Systems Inc.  The Association was concerned Mr. Ko was engaging in unauthorized public practice.

Decision

The Ethics Committee found Mr. Ko was in breach of the Association’s Code of Ethical Principles and Rules of Conduct, in effect from September 21, 2013, as follows:

Rules R510(iv) – Name of Practice;  R517 – Registration; R518 – Practice Review Requirements; R519 – Professional Liability Insurance because he failed to safeguard the public interest when he did not register in public practice with CGA-BC prior to offering services to the public that conformed to the definition of the Practice of Public Accounting. The names, Numbers Agent Canada Inc., and NumbersAgent Systems Inc., (including any other variations Mr. Ko may have used) were not approved by CGA-BC.  Liability insurance could not be obtained, and practice review requirements could not be met, unless Mr. Ko was registered in public practice with CGA-BC.

Rule R604(c) – Admittance to Membership because, contrary to the confirmation in his Membership Application Form, Mr. Ko was in breach of this rule because he failed to adhere to the terms and conditions of membership, specifically those that related to adhering to the Accountants (Certified General) Act, the CGA-BC Bylaws, and Code of Ethical Principles and Rules of Conduct.

The Ethics Committee found Mr. Ko was in breach of the Association’s Code of Ethical Principles and Rules of Conduct, in effect from September 20, 2014, as follows:


Rules R610 – Requirement to Reply in Writing; and R611 – Assistance to the Board, because Mr. Ko hindered the investigation by failing to accept delivery of the Investigator’s questions, and did not respond to the Investigator’s questions in accordance with the Rules.

Discipline Order

  • reprimanded; 
  • assessed a fine of $1,500.00; 
  • assessed full costs of $3,958.05; 
  • required to improve his conduct by:
    • ensuring that, prior to engaging in the practice of public accounting, he has fully complied with the public practice policies in effect at the time with no exemptions to be granted; 
    • removing the LinkedIn profile for "Numbers Agent Inc."; and, provide confirmation of the removal to the Association; 
    • removing and/or updating the wording on internet postings (specifically LinkedIn, MeetAnAccountant.com, ZoomInfo.com) where the public are directed to the NumbersAgent website, or the wording suggests to the public that services that conform to the definition of public accounting are provided by Mr. Ko, or by a business operated by Mr. Ko; and, provide confirmation of the removal and/or updated wording to the Association.