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(A) After notice and hearing as provided in
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the accountancy board may
discipline as described in division (B) of this section a person
holding an Ohio permit, an Ohio registration, a firm registration,
a CPA certificate, or a PA registration or any other person
whose activities are regulated by the board for any one or
any combination of the following causes:
(1) Fraud or deceit in obtaining a firm registration
or in obtaining a CPA certificate, a PA registration, an Ohio
permit, or an Ohio registration;
(2) Dishonesty, fraud, or gross negligence
in the practice of public accounting;
(3) Violation of any of the provisions of
section 4701.14 of the Revised Code;
(4) Violation of a rule of professional conduct
promulgated by the board under the authority granted by this
chapter;
(5) Conviction of a felony under the laws
of any state or of the United States;
(6) Conviction of any crime, an element of which is dishonesty or fraud, under the
laws of any state or of the United States;
(7) Cancellation, revocation, suspension,
or refusal to renew authority to practice as a certified public
accountant, a public accountant, or a public accounting firm
by any other state, for any cause other than failure to pay
registration fees in that other state;
(8) Suspension or revocation of the right
to practice before any state or federal agency;
(9) Failure of a holder of a CPA certificate
or PA registration to obtain an Ohio permit or an Ohio registration,
or the failure of a public accounting firm to obtain a firm
registration;
(10) Conduct discreditable to the public
accounting profession or to the holder of an Ohio permit, Ohio
registration, or foreign certificate;
(11) Failure of a public accounting firm
to comply with section 4701.04 of
the Revised Code.
(B) For any of the reasons specified in division
(A) of this section, the board may do any of the following:
(1) Revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any
CPA certificate or PA registration or any Ohio permit, Ohio
registration, or firm registration;
(2) Disqualify a person who is not a holder
of an Ohio permit or a foreign certificate from owning an equity
interest in a public accounting firm or qualified firm;
(3) Publicly censure a registered firm or
a holder of a CPA certificate, a PA registration, an Ohio permit,
or an Ohio registration;
(4) Levy against a registered firm or a holder
of a CPA certificate, a PA registration, an Ohio permit, or
an Ohio registration a penalty or fine not to exceed five thousand
dollars for each offense. Any fine shall be reasonable and
in relation to the severity of the offense.
(5) In the case of violations of division
(A)(2) or (4) of this section, require completion of remedial
continuing education programs prescribed by the board in addition
to those required by section 4701.11 of
the Revised Code;
(6) In the case of violations of division
(A)(2) or (4) of this section, require the holder of a CPA
certificate, PA registration, or firm registration to submit
to a peer review by a professional committee designated by
the board, which committee shall report to the board concerning
that holder's compliance with generally accepted accounting
principles, generally accepted auditing standards, or other
generally accepted technical standards;
(7) Revoke or suspend the privileges to offer
or render attest services in this state or to use the CPA title
or designation in this state of an individual who holds a foreign
certificate.
(C) If the board levies a fine against or suspends the certificate
of a person or registration of a person or firm for a violation
of division (A)(2) or (4) of this section, it may waive all
or any portion of the fine or suspension if the holder of the
CPA certificate, PA registration, or firm registration complies
fully with division (B)(5) or (6) of this section.
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