Dear Editor,

In this digital age, with a quickly evolving business landscape, it is more imperative than ever that accountants and finance professionals uphold and promote a code of ethics throughout their work.

Professional ethics goes beyond risk management and compliance; ethics are the foundation stone of trust and exchange. And in a digital age, with a truly global economy, we depend more than ever on the support of the wider business community to help uphold these standards.

At the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) we recently recognised Global Ethics Day here in the Caribbean and in our offices around the world.

But upholding ethics is a year-round job, and we believe that all groups involved in professional education, as we are at ACCA, have a duty to make sure individuals are equipped to apply the highest standard of ethical judgement throughout their careers in a fast-moving world.

That’s why ACCA is unveiling a new ethics and professional skills module, featuring curriculum adapted to societal circumstances to better prepare members to face today’s ever-evolving challenges.

The module develops the full spectrum of advanced ethical and professional skills, exposing members to realistic business situations and addressing professional skills employers have told us they need.

We are working hard to help give current and future finance professionals the tools they need to practise ethics wherever they live, throughout their entire careers.

But there is more work to do. ACCA also recognises that we all have a public duty to promote ethics beyond the boundaries of regulated professionals, and that we must work together in the business community in order to do this.

That is why we ask others to join us in recommitting to ensuring business is a force for good.

Julie Hotchkiss

ACCA Regional Director – Europe & Americas