Margaret Butler, president of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), announced that the IMA's confidential "ethics hotline" has now been opened to non-members. She said the hotline is particularly well-suited for small businesses.

President Butler said the opening of the hotline is a response to an unprecedented need for businesses everywhere to maintain the highest ethical standards.

Financial professionals can call the hotline toll-free at 1-800-638-4427, x1662, or send their inquiry via e-mail to ethics@imanet.org The IMA says it does not record phone numbers or e-mail addresses.

"When financial professionals call the toll-free hotline, their inquiries will be forwarded to an experienced ethics counselor, who provides confidential guidance," explained President Butler. "This hotline is particularly well-suited for small businesses and solo practitioners who need guidance on ethical issues."

President Butler also offered corporations the use of the Institute's "Standards of Ethical Conduct" for compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Read IMA's standards of ethical conduct.