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Ethics and professionalism Graham Divers December 2016
Ethics and professionalism
Graham Divers
December 2016
©ACCA
Agenda
• An overview of ACCA
• Corruption
• Ethics and the Golden Rule
• Whistleblowing
• Training and Development
• Doing the right thing…..
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1,249
employees
globally
7,400
Approved
Employers
Our global
reach in
numbers
188,000
members
and
480,000
students
in 178 countries
299
Approved
Learning
Partners
100
offices and
centres
in 53 countries
Ethics and professionalism
©ACCA
Corruption Perceptions Around the World
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A challenging environment…..but research and insights offers guidance
©ACCA
Where are we now?
• Concern about the way that companies
arrange their corporate governance and
manage their risks is now widespread.
• The corporate sector has failed to address
issues adequately.
• Crisis still dominating the economies of the
western world.
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http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/14767250/the-exclusive-story-how-feds-took-fifa
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https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/09/fifa-opens-corruption-case-against-sepp-blatter-and-jerome-valcke
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/18/fifa-corruption-scandal-us-releases-three-guilty-plea-transcripts
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Who are the referees?
Professional accountants, the
legal fraternity and other
business professionals such as
actuaries.
It is simply impossible for
corruption at a grand scale to
exist, as it does globally and in
Sub Saharan Africa without the
failure of business professionals
to enforce fair play.
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©ACCA
Conforming to rules – this was the first and earliest definition in many
societies, where ethics is defined as a list of things to do and to not do.
Good intentions: This is when behaviour is considered ethical if it is
based on good intentions. Rules may be too complicated or extensive to
follow accurately, but surely, good behaviour must follow from good
thinking.
Competence: The third definition is competence. In the 20th century, a
definition emerged which said that the ethical person was the one who
could make decisions based on internal principles, and then act on them.
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Definitions …..
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©ACCA 14/12/2016 Japheth Katto 13
ACCA Guides for Managers and
Directors about how to handle
whistleblowing and speak up
policies
This report examines the
challenges, opportunities and best
practices associated with various
types of speak-up arrangements.
It provides practical
recommendations to those who
develop, operate and oversee
such arrangements in order to
make these effective.
http://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/technical-
activities/technical-resources-
search/2016/may/effective-speak-up-
arrangements-for-whistle-blowers1.html
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©ACCA
Be aware of the risks What responsibilities do we have as a profession?
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Embracing change; shaping futures with the ACCA Qualification – the future
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Professional accountants – the future: Four themes of change and quotients for success
• Increased regulation and
stronger governance
• Digital technologies
• Expectations on the
profession
• Globalisation
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Doing the right thing ….
• The accountant who
encounters corruption can and
should rise to the challenge
and make a difference by
being courageous and doing
the right thing.
• Ethical codes matter
• Disciplinary codes matter
• Professionalism and ethical
behaviour is key
• Do the right thing……
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Accountants are the first line
of defence, the heroes and
heroines.
Technology is an opportunity
to help fight corruption.
Accountants can and should
set the ethical and
professional standard.
Heroes and Heroines!
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Ethics and professionalism
Graham Divers
Director Public Sector Development
Twitter: diversgraham
