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Trust & Ethics

Guidance and resources on key issues, including economic crime, business law, better regulation and ethics. Read through ICAEW’s Code of Ethics and supporting information.

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Key resources

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ICAEW's Ethics CPD course is designed to help you apply the Code of Ethics to everyday situations and uphold the highest standards of professional conduct.
Insights from CFOs on ethics
ICAEW's Director of Trust and Ethics, Laura Hough, discusses why good people do bad things with industry experts in this ICAEW Insights Podcast.
From 1 January 2020

ICAEW Code of Ethics

Access the Code which is based on IESBA’s Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants and supporting materials.
Read the code
Supporting accountants

Ethics and AI

In 2024, ICAEW’s Trust and Ethics Team hosted roundtables on shaping guidance for the accountancy profession on the ethical use of artificial intelligence. Read an overview of the discussions, offering insights into real-life use cases and the risks that must be managed.
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Business law

Better Regulation

Drawing on our experience and insights from ICAEW members, our better regulation work contains information on the UK’s regulatory regime and considers how it might be improved.
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Online training

Ethics CPD course

ICAEW has created a free online ethics course to support members in meeting their changing continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
Find out more
Support

Global Ethics Day

ICAEW celebrates Global Ethics Day each year. The 2024 theme is "Ethics empowered: using the power of ethics to build a better world”, and ICAEW is examining the vital role ethics must play in the development of technology.
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Ethics fundamentals

Why do good people do bad things?

In this Insights In Focus episode, we discuss professional ethics and seek to answer the age-old question: why do good people do bad things?
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Ethics

Horizon: lessons for software procurement
  • Article
  • 09 Feb 2024
As the issues with the Post Office’s Horizon software make headlines, we look at how buyers must work with vendors during the software procurement process.
Horizon scandal: seven lessons for boards
  • Article
  • 08 Feb 2024
As details continue to emerge about the Post Office’s management of the Horizon project, ICAEW Director, Corporate Governance and Stewardship, Peter van Veen picks out some key learning points.
FRC updates the Ethical Standard for Auditors
  • Article
  • 30 Jan 2024
Regulator says new requirements are proportionate to support confidence in UK corporate reporting and audit, to support UK growth and competitiveness.
Why fighting corruption is key to good governance
  • Article
  • 07 Dec 2023
International Anti-Corruption Day falls on 9 December; this year’s events seek to highlight how anti-corruption efforts contribute to peace, security and development.
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ICAEW Code of Ethics

ICAEW's Code of Ethics applies to all members, students, affiliates, employees of member firms and, where applicable, member firms, in all of their professional and business activities, whether remunerated or voluntary.

ICAEW Code of Ethics
  • Regulations
Access the Code which is based on IESBA’s Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants and supporting materials.
Code of Ethics 2020 Additional information
  • Regulations
Summaries of the Code's key requirements, more information on some of the key changes, and source and destination material.
ICAEW Code of Ethics summary
  • Regulations
  • PDF (37kb)
A summary of the fundamental principles of the Code of Ethics.
More support

Videos on ethics

The latest ethics related videos, webinars and podcasts from ICAEW. Find expert insight into ethical decision making, speaking up and ethical standards, which will support your professional development.

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The latest ethics related videos, webinars and podcasts from ICAEW. Find expert insight into ethical decision making, speaking up and ethical standards, which will support your professional development.

Business law

ICAEW's Business Law function leads ICAEW’s policy work on the UK’s regulatory regime and aspects of regulation including selected areas of company law and provides related resources to members including our briefing on the UK’s regulatory regime and our guide to directors’ duties.

Better Regulation
Drawing on our experience and insights from ICAEW members, our better regulation work contains information on the UK’s regulatory regime and considers how it might be improved.
Pen, notepad and phone
UK company law
Resources include relevant ICAEW technical releases, such as guidance on dividends and distributable profits, and updates on key developments in regulation, prospective legislation and related matters of professional concern to accountants in practice, industry or commerce.
Directors duties
Our guide provides an overview of the key duties and responsibilities of directors, including for transactions between a company and its directors or shareholders (eg dividend payments), responsibilities for financially challenged companies and penalties for breach.
More information

Economic crime

November cyber round-up
  • Article
  • 28 Nov 2024
This month we look at criminals’ latest techniques, the 10th birthday of Cyber Essentials, fraud risk in the utilities sector, and how an artificial intelligence grandmother has joined the fight against cybercrime.
Exclusive Cybercrime and the impact on the legal sector
  • Article
  • 27 Nov 2024
Cybercrime is expected to cost £8.5 trillion globally by 2025, highlighting the scale and sophistication of the cyber ecosystem. With the legal sector reportedly accounting for over 24% of global cyber-attacks, how can firms protect themselves from the ever-evolving cybercriminal?
Companies House reform: ID verification and its impact on accountants
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2024
Mike Miller, ICAEW’s Economic Crime Manager, outlines the major changes and intended timeline of implementation for Companies House identity verification.
Accountants must rally together to combat corruption
  • Article
  • 25 Nov 2024
ICAEW is contributing to the battle against procurement fraud and is sharing best practices to combat corruption, which costs the global economy £2trn annually. Discover how you can make a difference.
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Anti-money laundering

Free CPD: Anti-Money Laundering
  • Article
  • 26 Nov 2024
If you’re stepping into the role of money laundering reporting officer or want to brush up on your anti-money laundering (AML) knowledge, this free Continuous Professional Development (CPD) verifiable content will help.
ICAEW AML report highlights need for customer due diligence
  • Article
  • 18 Nov 2024
Firms should ensure they have adequate CDD procedures in place, particularly around verification and ongoing monitoring, the latest Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Report suggests.
Financial Crime Guide (June 2024): Combating the exploitation of international students as money mules
  • Newsletter
  • 13 Nov 2024
  • PDF (844kb)
This financial crime guide has been developed to assist government agencies and financial service providers, including remittance service providers and digital currency exchanges, to understand and identify signs of criminal networks exploiting vulnerable members of the community as money mules.
Exclusive Alternative Banking Platforms (ABPs) Money Laundering and Tax Fraud
  • Newsletter
  • 13 Nov 2024
  • PDF (316kb)
Extract from NCA Amber ALERT of November 2023 (Reference 0734-NECC)
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Bribery and corruption

Accountants must rally together to combat corruption
  • Article
  • 25 Nov 2024
ICAEW is contributing to the battle against procurement fraud and is sharing best practices to combat corruption, which costs the global economy £2trn annually. Discover how you can make a difference.
Companies House reform
  • Listing
  • 12 Aug 2024
Articles, helpsheets and resources covering issues related to Companies House reform under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
Accountants in business ‘must lead’ anti-corruption action
  • Article
  • 03 Jul 2024
ICAEW joins forces with the International Federation of Accountants and the Basel Institute to offer anti-corruption guidance for accountants.
Public and private sector collaboration key to fighting corruption
  • Article
  • 14 May 2024
Closer working ties between businesses and enforcement agencies will boost the battle against corruption, expert speakers at a recent IFAC, ICAEW and IBA event agree.
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Fraud

November cyber round-up
  • Article
  • 28 Nov 2024
This month we look at criminals’ latest techniques, the 10th birthday of Cyber Essentials, fraud risk in the utilities sector, and how an artificial intelligence grandmother has joined the fight against cybercrime.
Accountants must rally together to combat corruption
  • Article
  • 25 Nov 2024
ICAEW is contributing to the battle against procurement fraud and is sharing best practices to combat corruption, which costs the global economy £2trn annually. Discover how you can make a difference.
Charities face persistent internal fraud threat, survey finds
  • Article
  • 25 Nov 2024
Misappropriation of cash or assets by staff and volunteers and payment diversion fraud remain the most common types of fraud committed. A new report recommends robust internal controls and an anti-fraud culture.
Exclusive Alternative Banking Platforms (ABPs) Money Laundering and Tax Fraud
  • Newsletter
  • 13 Nov 2024
  • PDF (316kb)
Extract from NCA Amber ALERT of November 2023 (Reference 0734-NECC)
More

Modern slavery

Modern slavery signs that accountants are well placed to spot
  • Article
  • 30 Jul 2024
Businesses are increasingly raising concerns of modern slavery and recognising risks in their supply chains. Which red flags must accountants be particularly alert to?
The role of ethics within AI to combat modern slavery
  • Article
  • 05 Jul 2024
We complete our iEARTHS miniseries journey through an ethical lens. The ethical risks and challenges are real and require thoughtful reflection to protect what really matters: vulnerable individuals.
Diving deeper into the data for combating modern slavery
  • Article
  • 26 Jun 2024
The challenges around understanding what the data does or doesn’t tell us is a major factor in making AI work effectively. In the latest in his series, David Wray looks at getting data right and how causal AI might aid in offering decision-useful options.
Combating modern slavery: when Gen AI isn't enough
  • Article
  • 20 Jun 2024
Following his introduction to the iEARTHS’ artificial intelligence (AI) solution, David Wray discusses why causal AI was chosen over generative AI and how the team tackled bias and hallucinations.
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Whistleblowing

How directors support effective whistleblowing
  • 29 Apr 2020
This know-how guide shares practical guidance for directors on the importance of whistleblowing during the continually evolving COVID-19 crisis.
ICAEW Code of Ethics 2020 source reference
  • Regulations
  • 01 Jan 2020
  • PDF (4,936kb)
ICAEW Code of Ethics 2020 source referenced
ICAEW Code of Ethics 2020
  • Regulations
  • 01 Jan 2020
  • PDF (3,936kb)
ICAEW Code of Ethics 2020
Exclusive How whistleblowing help companies
  • Article
  • 14 Oct 2019
  • PDF (94kb)
Elizabeth Richard takes a look at how whistleblowing helps companies.
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Meet the team

Learn more about the work of ICAEW's Trust & Ethics team and the expert groups who support us, including the Ethics Standards Committee, Business Law Committee and Insolvency Committee.

Find out more
Aligning with Global Ethics Day on 18 October, ICAEW is exploring the vital importance of ethics to the accountancy and finance profession. Hear from CFOs and ethics experts on the key issues.

Further resources

icaew communities
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Forensic & Expert Witness Community
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Restructuring & Insolvency Community
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Solicitors Community
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library resources
Law and regulation
related topics
Audit reform and trust in business
  • Hub page
Corporate governance
  • Hub page
Gender pay gap reporting: the regulations
  • Helpsheets and support
Professional conduct in relation to taxation (PCRT)
  • Helpsheets and support