Business & Professional Ethics 6th Edition by Leonard Brooks

Exercise 65

I am a professional accountant and hold the position of Financial Analyst, Capital Projects, with the Town of Pinecrest. In my position, I deal with, among others, developers and their lawyers with respect to development agreements, costs sharing agreements, and financial agreements.
In the past, during lunch hours and after hours, I have provided informal financial advice to a fellow municipal employee with respect to her marriage separation, including a review of her ex-husband's personal tax returns (which included selfemployment income). No issue arose in this regard. Currently, during lunch hours and after hours, I am providing informal financial advice to another fellow municipal employee with respect to her commonlaw separation.
A verbal "complaint" or "allegation" has been made to the Town Manager that I have a "conflict of interest" by being a municipal employee carrying out my duties as a public servant as paid for by the town and by helping a fellow municipal employee who is currently facing a common-law separation. The town does not have an internal "conflict of interest" policy for staff. I know of no basis for such a "complaint" or "allegation" except that the lawyer for a group of developers is also the lawyer for the ex-common-law spouse.
As there is no actual "complaint" or "allegation" to respond to, only rumors and innuendo, I am seeking your general advice at this time. In due course, as a municipal employee, I will be providing a written response to the Town Manager. What advice would you give to this professional accountant?