A conflict of interest (COI) is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation or decision-making of that individual or organization. The concept of having personnel sign a conflict of interest statement has become one of the tools used to manage an organization’s control environment and ethics process.

A conflict of interest exists if the circumstances are reasonably believed to create a risk that a decision may be unduly influenced. The belief can be based on experience or objective evidence. There are critical concepts related to the conflict of interest process that organizations must understand.

This course is designed to provide the learner with the opportunity to re-examine the concept as it is applied in their organization. We also discuss potential COI scenarios and elements that should be included in a COI policy.

Learning Objectives
  • Explore the definition of conflict of interest (COI).
  • Explore key principles of a conflict of interest.
  • Discover how the concept of conflict of interest applies to business.
  • Discover examples of conflict of interest.
  • Identify components to include in your conflict of interest policy.
  • Explore how to properly manage and avoid conflict of interest.
Last updated/reviewed: August 27, 2023

Included In Certifications

This course is included in the following Certification Programs:

13 CoursesEthical Leadership Certification

  1. History of Ethics
  2. Ethics and the Psychology Behind the Concept - Part 2
  3. COSO 2013 Control Environment
  4. Today’s Corporate Ethical Culture - An updated course
  5. Managing Through Corporate Politics
  6. Real World Business Ethics Scenarios
  7. Relationship between Ethics, Morality, and the Law
  8. Impact of Ethics on Leadership
  9. Framework for Ethical Decision Making
  10. Keys to an Effective Code of Conduct
  11. Keys to Understanding Conflicts of Interest
  12. Whistleblower Hotlines - History and Regulations
  13. Whistleblower Hotlines - Effective Management

15 CoursesManagement Oversight, Analysis and Internal Controls Certification

  1. Management Internal Control Essentials
  2. Comprehensive Examination of COSO 2013: Components and Principles
  3. Keys to an Effective Code of Conduct
  4. Fraud Risk Assessments
  5. Enterprise Risk Management 101
  6. Identifying and Implementing the Proper Balance of Internal Controls
  7. Information Technology (IT) Controls in Emerging Business Environments
  8. Analyzing Financial Ratios - Solvency, Liquidity and Debt
  9. Analyzing Financial Ratios - Leverage
  10. Effectively Managing and Controlling Travel and Entertainment (T&E) Expenses
  11. Keys to Understanding Conflicts of Interest
  12. Documentation Methods For Internal Control Processes
  13. Segregation of Duties for Core Business Processes
  14. Professional Skepticism - Keys to Maintaining
  15. Whistleblower Hotlines - Effective Management
176 Reviews (885 ratings)

Reviews

5
Member's Profile
I found this course helpful in clarifying how to approach this very complicated topic. One comment on the final exam - I personally disagree with the notion that an attorney defending a criminal defendant while knowing that he/she is guilty is in an improper conflict of interest. As a former law student, it is my understanding that an attorney working for the defendant in a criminal trial has the duty to ensure that his/her client receives a fair and impartial trial, regardless of his/her conviction as to the defendant's culpability.

4
Member's Profile
Не раскрыта тема журналистики двойных стандартов. Опишите конфликт интересов журналистов, публикующих фэйковые новости и позорящих профессию, в угоду политической ситуации и политического эстеблишмента той или иной страны.

5
Anonymous Author
The coursed provided a very good introduction to understanding the concept of Conflict of Interest (COI). The instructor provides good examples and ways how the COI can be avoided and what actions should be taken if a COI incident is reported. The idea that surprised me (struck me as something new I never thought about) was that a conflict can exist even if there are no improper acts as a result of it.

5
Anonymous Author
This course provided an excellent refresher for recognizing and responding to potential conflicts of interest (COI) in the workplace. The instructor presented key concepts in an engaging and understandable manner with many relevant examples. Additionally, the supporting materials provided were very helpful and serve as an effective reference. I always enjoy Lynn's courses!

5
Anonymous Author
Great course! Detailed slides and engaging videos - I really like the instructor's teaching style. This course is great for anyone in an internal/external audit position, or any other corporate accounting role. This is mostly a refresher course for anyone with a CPA license, but it is a necessary refresher since conflicts of interest are prevalent within our profession.

5
Member's Profile
Interesting listening and reading. It is such a difficult area sometimes fraught with is it or is it not. Having a comprehensive policy ensures that the mystery is bridged but having avenues where staff can ask and enquire is key to ensuring they can notify and then take appropriate steps to notify in the appropriate way(s).

5
Member's Profile
The course provided a general overview of conflicts of interest, including providing a definition, various scenarios, policy, and actions. The examples provided make it easy to gain an understanding of the topic and strengthen your awareness of potential situations of conflicts of interest within your own company.

4
Member's Profile
Solid examples provided during the course. I agree with one of the key concepts, which was made very clear, that a conflict interest is not necessarily a problem. Once a conflict of interest is identified, it must be evaluate before determining what remedial action should be taken (if any action is required).

4
Anonymous Author
The speakers audio is loud and clear. The course is easy to comprehend as well as follow. Some of the topics are self explanatory and yet she gives situational examples for better understanding. And also she provided questions after every topic for more comprehension.

4
Anonymous Author
Course was good. Could have potenitally condensed the learning material a bit , i.e. some entire 'chapters' of the course in my opinion could be reduced to just 1-2 slides, Policy, Avoiding, and Actions seem a bit repetitive or at the least condense it into one chapter.

5
Anonymous Author
There was a lot of good content in this course that is very relevant to things I've been dealing with at work. Lynn is always a great instructor and does a great job of building real world examples into her material.

5
Anonymous Author
The test your knowledge part of the course was really thought-provoking. The structure of the course was great, but repetition was a bit over. The examples were really helpful to understand varied situations of COI.

5
Anonymous Author
Outstanding presentation of the keys in understanding conflicts of interest. I found it especially effective that the instructor included quizzes throughout the material and utilized highly effective scenarios.

5
Anonymous Author
Well presented. Covered many aspects I was not aware of. Examples were real life. Logically walked through reasoning as to why and why not COI. This training heightened my awareness on what constitutes COI.

5
Anonymous Author
This course was a great overview of Managing Conflicts of Interest. It gave good information on the definition, roles of management, employees and the Board. The Instructor was knowadgable and easy to follow.

5
Member's Profile
Conflict of Interest has wide range of implications and is discussed in great detail here by Lynn. She is a wonderful presenter and I recommend this ethics course along with all her other classes on ethics.

4
Member's Profile
This course provides a good overview of conflict of interest situations and gives common examples individuals and leaders will encounter. This focus is mostly on identifying conflict of interest situations.

5
Anonymous Author
Miss Fountain is very knowledgeable and does a great job in setting this presentations with good information and great examples that are applicable to day -to-day work. I really recommend this training.

5
Anonymous Author
Definitely a good class and one which is good to take and get an understanding of what potentially could constitute a conflict of interest. Well built course and great information on how to handle.

5
Anonymous Author
This course gave a great overview of conflicts of interest. It gave guidlines for creating effective policies, how to avoid conflicts of interest, and actions that should be taken if one is found.

4
Anonymous Author
Lynn Fountain does a good job. I like her style of teaching in that she's talking to you and not just reading some boring slides. She shares some good examples and covers the basics of the topic.

4
Anonymous Author
This was very inciteful and even though they were not necessary, the examples were very easy to follow and understand. The questions in the slide made it that much more interactive which was good.

4
Member's Profile
Forward thinking, common sense and a good moral compass puts you on the road to making sense of these concepts. In the end, it's not nearly as complicated as originally perceived. Thank you !

4
Anonymous Author
This was a great course which provided in-depth knowledge and resources around what to look for if a conflict of interest is applicable and suggestions to put in place policies and procedures.

5
Anonymous Author
The instructor explanation clear. The course is easy to comprehend as well as follow. Some of the topics are self explanatory and yet she gives situational examples for better understanding.

5
Member's Profile
Establishing proper conflicts of interest policies within a company should be implemented along with proper internal controls. This was a clear and thorough course explaining how to do so.

5
Member's Profile
The instructor was very effective in teaching the importance to understanding conflicts of interest. She gave a very good overview of it and gave me a good understanding of its importance.

5
Anonymous Author
Very clear and concise content of Conflict of Interest. The presentation is also very rich of information. It help the beginners to understand easily the concept of Conflict of Interest.

4
Anonymous Author
This course provides practical insight and considerations in setting policy, evaluating issues, and governance considerations with respect to conflicts of interest. An enjoyable course!

5
Member's Profile
Excellent course. Really enjoyed learning about the topics presented here. Instructor was wonderful. Would certainly recommend this course to my friends, family, and colleagues.

5
Anonymous Author
There is always a confusion on what really determines a conflict of interest. It is super helpful to finally know the proper categories and definitions with well crafted examples.

5
Anonymous Author
The course is a good overview regarding the types and classifications of conflicts of interest. It also discusses real scenarios and how to properly manage conflicts of interest.

5
Anonymous Author
Great slides and information on COI, which cover the main fundamentals of the concept (i.e. definition, examples, impact of board/management, and how to build a strong defense).

5
Member's Profile
Very practical information that defines COI beyond an event. It has good suggestions to prevent COI from harming an organization or an individual. Very clear communication.

3
Member's Profile
The course had some interesting points but overall I think the message could have been condensed into half the time spent; other related topics to COI could have been covered.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course. I think most of us have been in a position of potential conflict of interest before, and this is a great reminder to remain transparent with our employer.

5
Member's Profile
Thank you for this training. I understand more in detailed of conflict of interest and what to watch out for. This is a very good training for this topic, great job!

4
Member's Profile
I liked the definition of conflict of interest and the several examples given. There were several that may not be commonly considered to be conflicts of interest.

4
Anonymous Author
I liked how educational this course was and the large number of examples provided of what conflicts of interest may be. Could have been shortened some however.

5
Anonymous Author
Probably my favourite course so far, theory and plenty of examples to consider, also plenty of takeaways to put into practise and check for within organisations.

5
Member's Profile
Good course on conflicts of interest, what they are, and how a company should build a policy to help employees know what they are and how they should proceed.

5
Anonymous Author
This is a solid course that will further help individuals understand the various conflict of interest situations and how to have a strong ethical culture.

5
Member's Profile
Good basic grounding in conflicts of interest with good examples. Good review questions throughout to ensure understanding. Useful section on policy.

5
Anonymous Author
This was a very efficient and informative course. Good to know what is an appropriate policy for companies to create and instill in their companies.

5
Anonymous Author
This course was informative. I like that it was short, and I really like to option to read the PDF document as an alternative to watching the videos.

4
Anonymous Author
Information was well presented and provided good examples of various forms of COI and suggestions on what to include and how to manage a COI policy.

4
Anonymous Author
Relevant examples of the different types of conflicts of interest. A couple of the exam questions could have gone a couple ways, so read carefully.

4
Member's Profile
Great information. Please note this course contains a lot of information. It is long and dense. A lot of real world applicability for everyone.

5
Member's Profile
I enjoyed the course. It gave me a greater understanding than before of examples of and solutions to conflicts of interest. Great webinar overall.

5
Anonymous Author
Very informative course that functions as a clear, thorough reference for personnel focused on / concerned with such topics. Excellent training.

5
Anonymous Author
Informative course by Lynn, once again. I enjoy all of this instructor's courses, as she lays the pertinent info out in an easy-to-follow manner

4
Anonymous Author
It is a very helpful course in examining the definition of conflict of interest, identifying the key principles and components of the COI policy.

5
Anonymous Author
Instructor was clear and easy to follow. I look forward to getting to use the information I have learned in my future networking opportunities.

5
Member's Profile
This course provides a good understanding of what conflict of interest is which in turn helps to establish ways to avoid conflicts of interest.

4
Member's Profile
This is a very informative course for anyone who is interested in learning more about conflicts of interest and potential impacts on business.

5
Anonymous Author
This is an effective course to solidify your understanding of what a conflict of interest is. I will be definitely sign up for more courses.

4
Member's Profile
I liked the use of examples. The materials and instructor always referred to management and boards in the male form which was bothersome.

5
Anonymous Author
Course covered the material well and was easy to follow. Provided applicable examples of conflicts of interest. Would recommend to others.

5
Anonymous Author
I really enjoyed this course! In-depth discussion on COI across many different business types and levels was very informative. Thank you!

5
Member's Profile
Examples and quizs across the course are helpful for understanding the subject. Tricky questions in final exam pose some good challenge.

5
Anonymous Author
This is a refreshing course. I like the instructor being detailed with explanation. Nothing surprised me. Everyone will learn from this.

5
Anonymous Author
The course was a solid overview of the conflict of interest. The instructor ensured the reader's attention throughout the presentation.

5
Anonymous Author
Another excellent course with material that is valuable to those working in Accounting/Finance, and also Compliance professionals.

3
Member's Profile
I thought this was a good overview of the subject and the examples from across different industries/organization types were helpful.

5
Anonymous Author
Thanks for Mr Lynn' detailed explanation which made me confident to complete my AICPA' CPE education. Her voice is very kindly.

5
Anonymous Author
Very interesting course. The lecturer gives clear explanations of the concept and at an adequate pace. I recommend this course.

4
Anonymous Author
informative course that is helpful in understanding how to overcome possible conflicts of interest and identifying situations.

4
Member's Profile
The course was useful in understanding the concept of Conflict of Interests as well as the actions to be taken if it is noted

5
Anonymous Author
This is a great course if you wish to learn more about conflict of interest. I would highly recommend this course to anyone.

5
Anonymous Author
Another great course from Lynn. It gives a good level of explanation. I enjoy very much real life examples from the course.

4
Member's Profile
I had surface knowledge of conflicts of interest. this course really brought it all home for all levels of an organization.

5
Member's Profile
Instructor was knowledgeable and kept it interesting with real-life examples and quizzes to further elaborate on key points

3
Anonymous Author
It is really important for companies to navigate potential conflicts of interest and this course provides a good framework.

5
Member's Profile
this course was great and helped better my understanding of what a conflict of interest is and how it should be dealt with

4
Anonymous Author
This course is great overview of what a conflict of interests is and how to ensure independence throughout the job.

4
Anonymous Author
Lots of good examples in this video to many different professions. Good overall review for many professions as well.

5
Member's Profile
Great coverage of topical area. I enjoyed the approach and would make this part of every professional's annual CPE.

5
Anonymous Author
Great session on the importance of realizing conflicts of interest and acknowledging them sooner rather than later.

4
Anonymous Author
This was a very informative course to take. Learn alot of the COI. Please take the time to enroll in this class.

4
Anonymous Author
Good discussion on conflict of interest, including the scenarios and what safeguards we should have to combat it.

5
Anonymous Author
Interesting class where the instructor gives terrific examples to emphasize the information she is communicating

4
Member's Profile
Some great points - didn't need the quizes in the middle - seemed to be a te filler as most answers were obvious

4
Member's Profile
Great course that thoroughly explains the concepts and operationalisation of conflicts of interest. Thanks Lynn!

2
Anonymous Author
The presentation could have been condensed. It was very long and the speaker read a lot of the slides verbatim.

5
Member's Profile
Great course to refresh the concepts of COI. I would recommend it to anyone seeking a refresher course on COI.

5
Member's Profile
This was a solid introduction to managing conflicts of interest. These are important things to keep in mind.

5
Member's Profile
I would recommend this course for everyone. This is basic fundamental information that everyone should know.

5
Anonymous Author
Excellent summary, lin makes the subject matter interesting as always. Quick, efficient, excellent delivery.

5
Anonymous Author
Solid presenter with well organized content and many practical conflict of interest scenarios to consider.

5
Anonymous Author
Very informative and detailed. The real world examples were helpful, as well as the quizzes along the way.

4
Anonymous Author
Good overview of the concepts and some good points to keep in mind when evaluating conflicts of interested

4
Member's Profile
Clear concepts, well presented, meaningful to the course objective. Test was related to materials taught.

5
Anonymous Author
Keys to Managing conflic of Interst is a great course. It is easy to follow and understanding. well done.

4
Anonymous Author
The course instructor was very informative and gave some good tips for dealing with conflict of interest.

5
Member's Profile
good coverage of rudimentary points. this course should be a lot more in depth and expand on the topics.

5
Member's Profile
This course was very informative and I will recommend it to my colleagues and friends in the same field.

5
Anonymous Author
The Webinar helps to clarify the requirements of insurance entities which i was previously unaware of.

5
Anonymous Author
The course was very detailed and provided great examples for each of the conflict of interest concepts.

5
Member's Profile
It is a great course to understand Conflicts of Interest. Not so many courses related to this topics.

5
Anonymous Author
Nice refresher on conflict of interest. Materials are well laid out and support the course objective.

4
Anonymous Author
Good course. I'm a big fan of Lynn's but the amount of repetition in this course was a bit annoying.

5
Anonymous Author
I am glad I took this course. It is simple but an important part of any organization code of conduct.

5
Anonymous Author
Great presentation of information. Clearly presented with good examples that are easy to understand.

4
Anonymous Author
prerequisite requirements were appropriate and sufficient, I found the instructor to be effective.

5
Anonymous Author
Covers all aspects of conflict of interest and how to properly manage them at the corporate level.

5
Anonymous Author
topics covered were good and covered various scenarios that would be helpful in the business world

5
Anonymous Author
The material was well presented and explained. Practical illustrations and relatable situations.

5
Member's Profile
Program materials were relevant and contributed to the achievement of the learning objectives

5
Anonymous Author
Great refresher and course on conflicts of interests and the importance of having a good policy.

5
Member's Profile
Very helpful overview of the definition of COI, examples, and how to avoid COI in organizations.

4
Member's Profile
A great reminder of what a conflict of interest is and how it is often perceived. Good course.

3
Member's Profile
Good overview of the topic. May want to add how an organization forms a policy in more detail.

4
Anonymous Author
Great course with excellent scenarios and real examples. Also counts for CA required 4 hours.

5
Anonymous Author
I like the pace of the cours and the exemples provided also the small quiz after each topic

5
Member's Profile
It enjoyed all of the examples of conflict of interest. it made the lesson easier to follow.

4
Anonymous Author
The course is explained clearly and effectively. The COI will remain imprinted in your mind.

3
Anonymous Author
this course serves as a nice refresher for COI elements one may take for granted (or forget)

5
Member's Profile
I have a better understanding of conflict of interest in the workplace and how it relates.

5
Anonymous Author
Good Course on conflicts of interest. There is a lot of good information in this course.

3
Member's Profile
Liked the fact that it was broken up in sections so I could listen over a period of days.

4
Member's Profile
Good discussion of conflict of interest policy and situations where a conflict may arise.

4
Anonymous Author
Good overview of conflict of interest definitions, and how to apply them in the workplace.

4
Member's Profile
Presenter was very clear and gave some good examples related to conflict of interest.

4
Member's Profile
Good information! Very useful tools! Great examples presented to facilitate learning.

5
Member's Profile
Great course, very important to review COIs and ways to manage and implement policy!

5
Member's Profile
The course is well organized and the material clearly explained by the instructor.

5
Member's Profile
This ethics course was very helpful in updating my skills in conflict of interest.

4
Anonymous Author
Wonderful course that improve my ethical perspective towards control environment.

5
Member's Profile
EXCELLENT OVERVIEW FOR ANYONE IN DECISION MAKING ROLE OR POSITION TO INFLUENCE

4
Anonymous Author
Good detailed course about conflict of interest of what it is and what its not.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course. I learned alot about ways to prevent conflict of interest. thanks

5
Anonymous Author
This course provided a good overview of how to deal with conflict of interest.

5
Anonymous Author
The course is very interesting and filled with plenty of relevant information.

5
Member's Profile
Good course that appeared to cover the topic completely and in a clear manner.

5
Anonymous Author
I liked the personal experiences that were included and the review questions.

5
Anonymous Author
Solid course covered all aspects of COI. Instruction and material first rate.

4
Member's Profile
Clear and informative, albeit dry. Several minor typos on powerpoint slides.

5
Anonymous Author
great class. My first class on conflict of interest and I really enjoyed it.

5
Member's Profile
excellent course. highly recommended. Lynn is the best. super clear as ever

5
Anonymous Author
Good course, it was succinct and effective. The PDF materials were useful.

5
Member's Profile
Very interesting presentation. Thought provoking and very relevant for me.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course on learning how to understand conflict of interests. Thanks.

4
Anonymous Author
An important topic. Thanks for a great lesson, overview, and refresher.

5
Member's Profile
Interesting and easy to follow. Taught some topics that I had doubts on.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course on conflicts of interest and ethics. Excellent instructor.

5
Anonymous Author
Fun course, fun instructor. Teaches the material in an effective way.

4
Anonymous Author
I recommend this course because it was very informative and detailed.

5
Member's Profile
Thorough course with excellent anecdotes to help illustrate concepts.

5
Anonymous Author
Well-drafted course that provides a broad picture of CoI' management

5
Anonymous Author
This course did a really good job of giving lots of examples of COI.

4
Anonymous Author
Presenter was very knowledgeable and course content was appropriate.

4
Anonymous Author
Decent overview of what this is, what it means and best practices.

5
Anonymous Author
well organized and easy to follow, interesting slides and examples

5
Member's Profile
good simple overview and refresher. easy to understand and digest.

5
Member's Profile
Decent overview of COI. Instructor has good real world examples.

5
Anonymous Author
I really enjoyed the course and found it to be very informative.

3
Anonymous Author
Course covers basics of conflict of interest in a thorough way.

5
Anonymous Author
The course was informative and presented in a meaningful manner.

5
Member's Profile
Good course that was a good refresher on topics and helpful....

5
Member's Profile
Very relevant presentation of an important topic - very basic.

5
Anonymous Author
Very detailed course that gives a lot of good examples of COI.

4
Member's Profile
Great slides and presentation. Easy to follow and understand

4
Member's Profile
Interesting lecture and good insights to coi. Good instructor

4
Member's Profile
Pace of the course was appropriate and slides were well done

5
Anonymous Author
Good refresh training on COI with many practical examples.

4
Member's Profile
Good clear and concise course. Lynn is a great instructor.

4
Anonymous Author
Great course, with practical example, nice presentation

5
Member's Profile
A very informative course. Lost of details and examples.

5
Member's Profile
This was a really good overview on conflicts of interest

3
Anonymous Author
well thought out and acceptable for cpe review purposes

4
Member's Profile
Good Course. I recommend everyone to take this course

5
Member's Profile
Like all her course, excellent, clear, and concise.

5
Anonymous Author
Easy to follow and applicable to daily situations.

4
Anonymous Author
Not too bad. overall a good ethics course to study

5
Anonymous Author
Good overview and refresher course.

4
Anonymous Author
Great course

Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Intermediate

No Advanced Preparation or Prerequisites are needed for this course, but completion of the instructor's other courses on ethics may be helpful.

Education Provider Information
Company: Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: For more information regarding this course, including complaint and cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to .
Course Questions and Answers1 Question
User picture

Engaging and detailed lecture. Recommended!

Instructor for this course
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
  Introduction to Keys to Managing Conflict of Interest2:49
Understanding Conflict of Interests
  Conflict of Interest Definition8:38
  Key Principles of Conflict of Interest7:25
  COI In Business13:44
  COI for Boards and Senior Leaders7:37
  Examples5:29
  COI Scenarios11:24
  COI Policy15:12
  Avoiding COI11:52
  Actions5:32
  Test Your Knowledge6:43
CONCLUSION
  Summary3:58
CONTINUOUS PLAY
  Keys to Understanding Conflict of Interests1:40:24
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
  Slides: Keys to Understanding Conflict of InterestsPDF
  Keys to Understanding Conflict of Interests Glossary/IndexPDF
REVIEW AND TEST
  REVIEW QUESTIONS quiz
 FINAL EXAMexam