Principles that when followed, promote values such as trust, good behaviour, fairness and kindness.

There is not one consistent set of standards that all companies follow. However each company has the right to develop the standards that are meaningful for their organisation as long as they meet the minimum requirements as set out by the law in a given area. Ethical standards are not always easily enforceable, as they may be vaguely defined and open to interpretation. Others can be more specific, such as “Do not share the customer’s private information with anyone outside of the company”.

A good starting point is:

Take responsibility – Be accountable for all your actions – don’t blame others if things go wrong, and if you suspect something isn’t right, be prepared to take action.

Treat others with respect – Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness and respect and consider cultural sensitivities and business practices.

Always provide a high standard of service – Always ensure your client, or others to whom you have a professional responsibility, receive the best possible advice, support or performance of the terms of engagement you have agreed to.

Act with integrity – Be honest and straightforward in all that you do.

Act in a way that promotes trust in your field – Act in a manner, both in your professional life and private life, to promote you, your firm or the organisation you work for in a professional and positive way.