Results from the responses to the September 2009 FEE Discussion Paper on “Integrity in Professional Ethics“
13 April 2011
According to the results collected by FEE from the responses to the September 2009 DP on "Integrity in Professional Ethics", personal and professional integrity is the foremost ethical principle for business behaviour. Codes of Conduct tend to focus on the use of objectivity and independence.
As ethical behaviour in business is fundamental for public trust and confidence, FEE would like to promote a debate amongst stakeholders and the public at large about the importance of integrity in the accountancy profession and more in general. What behaviour defines integrity and how is it related to other fundamental principles as independence, objectivity, independence, professional competence, due care, confidentiality and professional behaviour? The majority of the respondents, including audit firms, FEE Member Bodies, other professional (accounting) bodies, regulators and individuals, agreed that integrity constitutes the basis for determining ethical behaviour.
While most agreed that more discussion on integrity would be appropriate, the extent to which it should be incorporated in codes of ethics and disciplinary arrangements of accountancy bodies was subject to different views. Should it be coordinated at international level or rather not? Should there be definitions or rather guidance on integrity? The basic behavioural characteristics such as being honest and truthful, dealing fairly, showing consistency, complying with the spirit as well as the letter of regulations, taking the public interest into consideration, being open-minded to consider new ideas and information and taking corrective action were generally accepted, with some additional proposals for instilling organisational integrity.
Press release
© FEE
