Randal Ray, registered with SAICA as a chartered accountant in business, is the recently appointed financial accountant at Watertech $($Pty$)$ Ltd$,$ a water purification and irrigation company. The company is wholly owned subsidiary of Damworks Ltd$,$ a company listed on the JSE. One of his duties is to prepare the annual financial statements for submission to the holding company.

These annual financial statements are used to calculate bonuses paid to management, including executive directors at the subsidiary. On presenting the March $2023$ figures to Willy Hagen, the financial director of Watertech $($Pty$)$ Ltd$,$ William Shakes suggested to Randal Ray that he go and work on the figures to reflect a far better profit for the year, reminding him that the management bonuses depend on the profit reflected. On protesting that he could not manipulate the figures, William Shakes replied $$I suggest you do as I say.$$

On his way back to his office, Randal Ray decided to discuss the matter with Dave Vinci, a chartered accountant employed by Watertech $($Pty$)$ Ltd$.$ He responded, $$Randal just do it; you are no longer in the profession. William Shakes will fire you if you do not do what he says $$ just look on the bright side, our bonuses will also be bigger. Besides, it$$s not as though you are stealing! In any event, who will ever know $$ the auditors they send here are always pretty inexperienced and you can tell them anything you like!$$

Required:

a$)$ Discuss the situation in which Randal Ray finds himself in relation to the SAICA Code of Professional Conduct. $(15)$

b$)$ Discuss Dave Vinci$$s attitude to professional ethics. $(5)$

c$)$ Discuss the action Randal Ray could take, assuming he is not prepared to comply with William Shakes$$s instructions. $(5)$