Updated Code of Ethics: Customer and Employee Privacy Policy
THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF BELIZE
CODE OF ETHICS
PART A - APPLICABLE TO ALL MEMBERS
SECTION 1
Integrity and Objectivity
1.1 Integrity implies not merely honesty but fair dealing and truthfulness. The principle of objectivity imposes the obligation on all members as professional accountants to be fair, intellectually honest and free of conflicts of interest.
1.2 In selecting the situations and practices to be specifically dealt with in ethical requirements relating to objectivity, adequate consideration should be given to the following factors:
a) Members are exposed to situations which involve the possibility of pressures being exerted on them. These pressures may impair their objectivity.
b) Relationships should be avoided which allow prejudice, bias or influences of others to override objectivity or where not practicable, assignments should not be undertaken.
c) Members should neither accept nor offer gifts or entertainment which might reasonably be believed to have a significant and improper influence on their professional judgement or those with whom they deal.
Integrity and Objectivity
1.1 Integrity implies not merely honesty but fair dealing and truthfulness. The principle of objectivity imposes the obligation on all members as professional accountants to be fair, intellectually honest and free of conflicts of interest.
1.2 In selecting the situations and practices to be specifically dealt with in ethical requirements relating to objectivity, adequate consideration should be given to the following factors:
a) Members are exposed to situations which involve the possibility of pressures being exerted on them. These pressures may impair their objectivity.
b) Relationships should be avoided which allow prejudice, bias or influences of others to override objectivity or where not practicable, assignments should not be undertaken.
c) Members should neither accept nor offer gifts or entertainment which might reasonably be believed to have a significant and improper influence on their professional judgement or those with whom they deal.
Section 2
Resolution of Ethical Conflicts
2.1 From time to time members encounter situations which give rise to conflicts of interest. Such conflicts may arise in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the relatively trivial dilemma to the extreme case of fraud and similar illegal activities. It is not possible to attempt to itemize a comprehensive checklist of potential cases where conflicts of interest might occur. A member should be constantly conscious of and be alert to factors which give rise to conflicts of interest. It should be noted that an honest difference of opinion between a professional accountant and another party is not in itself an ethical issue. However, the facts and circumstances of each case need investigation by the parties concerned.
2.2 In applying standards of ethical conduct members may encounter problems in identifying unethical behavior or in resolving an ethical conflict. When faced with significant ethical issues, members should follow the established policies of the employing organisation to seek a resolution of such conflict. Members are expected to take all reasonable steps to resolve ethical problems internally and if necessary to consult the Institute in order to seek objective advice.
Resolution of Ethical Conflicts
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2.2 In applying standards of ethical conduct members may encounter problems in identifying unethical behavior or in resolving an ethical conflict. When faced with significant ethical issues, members should follow the established policies of the employing organisation to seek a resolution of such conflict. Members are expected to take all reasonable steps to resolve ethical problems internally and if necessary to consult the Institute in order to seek objective advice.
Section 3
Professional Competence
3.1 Members should not portray themselves as having expertise or experience they do not possess.
3.2 Professional competence may be divided into two separate phases:
a) Attainment of professional competence:
The attainment of professional competence requires initially a high
standard of general education followed by specific education,
training and examination in professionally relevant subjects, and
whether prescribed or not, a period of work experience. This
should be the normal pattern of development for a member.
b) Maintenance of professional competence:
i) The maintenance of professional competence requires a continuing awareness of development in the accountancy profession including relevant local and international
pronouncements on accounting, auditing and other relevant regulations and statutory requirements.
ii) A member should adopt a programme designed to ensure quality control in the performance of professional services consistent with appropriate local and international pronouncements.
3.3 While off-duty, a member should conduct him/herself accordingly to the laws of the Constitution of Belize.
Professional Competence
3.1 Members should not portray themselves as having expertise or experience they do not possess.
3.2 Professional competence may be divided into two separate phases:
a) Attainment of professional competence:
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standard of general education followed by specific education,
training and examination in professionally relevant subjects, and
whether prescribed or not, a period of work experience. This
should be the normal pattern of development for a member.
b) Maintenance of professional competence:
i) The maintenance of professional competence requires a continuing awareness of development in the accountancy profession including relevant local and international
pronouncements on accounting, auditing and other relevant regulations and statutory requirements.
ii) A member should adopt a programme designed to ensure quality control in the performance of professional services consistent with appropriate local and international pronouncements.
3.3 While off-duty, a member should conduct him/herself accordingly to the laws of the Constitution of Belize.
SECTION 4
Confidentiality
4.1 Members have an obligation to respect the confidentiality of information a client’s or employer’s affairs acquired in the course of professional services. The duty of confidentiality continues even after the end of the relationship between the member and the client or employer.
4.2 It is in the interest of the public and the profession that the profession’s standards relating to confidentiality be defined and guidance given on the nature and extent of the duty of confidentiality and the circumstances in which disclosure of information acquired during the course of providing professional services shall be permitted or required.
Confidentiality
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4.2 It is in the interest of the public and the profession that the profession’s standards relating to confidentiality be defined and guidance given on the nature and extent of the duty of confidentiality and the circumstances in which disclosure of information acquired during the course of providing professional services shall be permitted or required.
Section 5
Customer Policy
5.1 As apart of his or her responsibilities, a member is to protect a client's information and more importantly, adhere to the confidentiality request of the client and other parties.
5.2 All information or data gathered from customers by employees as part of their responsibilities should not be disclosed or utilized without specific authorization from Senior Management for official purposes.
a) An employee is obliged to collect information that is aligned with his or her responsibility.
b) Customers have a right to consent before their personal information is used by other parties.
c) Clients can review and change the information about them for it to be more accurate.
5.3 ICAB websites use cookies with shorter timelines and disguising the data collected.
a) ICAB offers secure online environment and discloses privacy policy more effectively.
Customer Policy
5.1 As apart of his or her responsibilities, a member is to protect a client's information and more importantly, adhere to the confidentiality request of the client and other parties.
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a) An employee is obliged to collect information that is aligned with his or her responsibility.
b) Customers have a right to consent before their personal information is used by other parties.
c) Clients can review and change the information about them for it to be more accurate.
5.3 ICAB websites use cookies with shorter timelines and disguising the data collected.
a) ICAB offers secure online environment and discloses privacy policy more effectively.
Section 6
Tax Practices
6.1 Tax advice or opinions of material consequence given to a client or an employer should be recorded, either in the form of a letter or in a memorandum for the files.
6.2 A member rendering professional tax services is entitled to put forward the best position in favor of a client, or an employer, provided the service is rendered with professional competence, does not in any way impair integrity and objectivity, and is in the opinion of the member consistent with the law. Doubt may be resolved in favour of the client or the employer if there is reasonable support for the position.
Tax Practices
6.1 Tax advice or opinions of material consequence given to a client or an employer should be recorded, either in the form of a letter or in a memorandum for the files.
6.2 A member rendering professional tax services is entitled to put forward the best position in favor of a client, or an employer, provided the service is rendered with professional competence, does not in any way impair integrity and objectivity, and is in the opinion of the member consistent with the law. Doubt may be resolved in favour of the client or the employer if there is reasonable support for the position.
Section 7
Publicity
7.1 In the marketing and promotion of themselves and their work, Members should:
a) not use means which brings the profession into disrepute;
b) not make exaggerated claims for the services they are able to offer, the qualifications they possess, or experience they have gained; and
c) not denigrate the work of other accountants.
Publicity
7.1 In the marketing and promotion of themselves and their work, Members should:
a) not use means which brings the profession into disrepute;
b) not make exaggerated claims for the services they are able to offer, the qualifications they possess, or experience they have gained; and
c) not denigrate the work of other accountants.
Section 8
Information Technology: Employee Privacy
8.1 An employee shall be left alone, free from surveillance or interference from other members.
8.2 Employees should not access confidential or proprietary information or data on the computer systems, except when it is in keeping with an assigned responsibility of an employee.
8.3 Employees have the obligation to appropriately maintain and protect the confidentiality of information to which they have access, regardless of the method used to retrieve or display it.
8.4 Employees must prevent downloading, distribution and installation of pirated software.
8.5 Employees shall not injure others, their property, reputation by false or malicious action.
8.6 Employees shall not use availability and access to information for personal gain through corporate espionage.
8.7 Employees should respect intellectual property and give credit to other's work. They should never steal or misuse copyrighted, patented material or trade secrets.
8.8 ICAB has all rights to inspect the content of any employee's incoming or outgoing emails, to detect misuse, fraud or any illegal activity all with good intentions.
8.9 Employees shall have security measures when using the email system due to the confidentiality of the data.
Section 9
Social Media Use
9.1 Although the internet platforms are used for mostly business purposes, it can also be used for occasional personal purposes.
a) must take place in employee's own time and be reasonable.
b) personal transactions must be discarded from the system immediately.
c) ICAB's business email should never be used for non-email social media platforms.
9.2 Employees shall not communicate offensive remarks, such as the distribution of sexually explicit or offensive material relating to an individual’s or employee's personal characteristics, perceived characteristics or those of someone connected to them.
9.3 Employees are authorized to use Internet, social media and email systems for ICAB's business will depend on service need and the nature of the duties and responsibilities of their posts.
9.4 Employees must never use personal e-mail accounts for the purposes of transmitting information relating to ICAB's business or forward email relating to ICAB's business from their mailboxes to personal email accounts. Where there is a requirement to communicate information relating to ICAB's business to or from external locations, such as periods of occasional homeworking as part of contingency arrangements during severe weather, only secure systems such as the mailing system should be used. Non secured devices such as personal smartphones, i-phones and androids must never be connected to the ICAB's network or mail system.
9.5 Members are to note that the Internet, social media and e-mail facilities are provided
primarily for business use, employees may use the systems for occasional personal
use.
Personal use of Internet, social media and e-mail systems is subject to the following
conditions:
a) personal use must be reasonable and should take place in an employee’s own time but in any event must not take priority over their work responsibilities
b) the performance and effectiveness of the ICAB's Internet, social media and email systems as a business tool must not be reduced, disrupted or in any way compromised by the level or nature of personal use.
c) personal use must not incur the ICAB's in any unauthorized expenses.
d) all personal e-mails must be deleted from the system as soon as possible.
e)employees must consider the ICAB's reputation when sending personal emails or when taking part in on-line discussions must ensure that it is made clear that they are not commenting in an official capacity and that the views expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ICAB.
f) ICAB's email accounts must never be used to register with any non-official social media sites.
9.6 Employees are encouraged not to comment on their work or make reference to ICAB on external web pages such as Facebook.
9.7 If employees are aware of negative or disparaging remarks about ICAB or its services, they must not respond but instead tell their manager who will determine if the comments are worth taking action or not.
9.8 Employees should be aware that colleagues, customers and third parties often have access to the material they may post on the Internet and as such this should be kept in mind when posting information online that can be viewed by more than friends and family. So, they should not post any explicit content or content that may make ICAB vulnerable and open to threat. whether in or out of the organization.
9.9 Employees must ensure that they do not overstep professional boundaries by communicating with or ‘befriending’ clients on social networking sites such as Facebook so as not to disrupt the necessary obligation for the purpose of carrying out their professional duties.
Done by: Mitchelle Arzu
Ashley Stanford
Neidy Cantun
Information Technology: Employee Privacy
8.1 An employee shall be left alone, free from surveillance or interference from other members.
8.2 Employees should not access confidential or proprietary information or data on the computer systems, except when it is in keeping with an assigned responsibility of an employee.
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8.4 Employees must prevent downloading, distribution and installation of pirated software.
8.5 Employees shall not injure others, their property, reputation by false or malicious action.
8.6 Employees shall not use availability and access to information for personal gain through corporate espionage.
8.7 Employees should respect intellectual property and give credit to other's work. They should never steal or misuse copyrighted, patented material or trade secrets.
8.8 ICAB has all rights to inspect the content of any employee's incoming or outgoing emails, to detect misuse, fraud or any illegal activity all with good intentions.
8.9 Employees shall have security measures when using the email system due to the confidentiality of the data.
Section 9
Social Media Use
9.1 Although the internet platforms are used for mostly business purposes, it can also be used for occasional personal purposes.
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b) personal transactions must be discarded from the system immediately.
c) ICAB's business email should never be used for non-email social media platforms.
9.2 Employees shall not communicate offensive remarks, such as the distribution of sexually explicit or offensive material relating to an individual’s or employee's personal characteristics, perceived characteristics or those of someone connected to them.
9.3 Employees are authorized to use Internet, social media and email systems for ICAB's business will depend on service need and the nature of the duties and responsibilities of their posts.
9.4 Employees must never use personal e-mail accounts for the purposes of transmitting information relating to ICAB's business or forward email relating to ICAB's business from their mailboxes to personal email accounts. Where there is a requirement to communicate information relating to ICAB's business to or from external locations, such as periods of occasional homeworking as part of contingency arrangements during severe weather, only secure systems such as the mailing system should be used. Non secured devices such as personal smartphones, i-phones and androids must never be connected to the ICAB's network or mail system.
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a) personal use must be reasonable and should take place in an employee’s own time but in any event must not take priority over their work responsibilities
b) the performance and effectiveness of the ICAB's Internet, social media and email systems as a business tool must not be reduced, disrupted or in any way compromised by the level or nature of personal use.
c) personal use must not incur the ICAB's in any unauthorized expenses.
d) all personal e-mails must be deleted from the system as soon as possible.
e)employees must consider the ICAB's reputation when sending personal emails or when taking part in on-line discussions must ensure that it is made clear that they are not commenting in an official capacity and that the views expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ICAB.
f) ICAB's email accounts must never be used to register with any non-official social media sites.
9.6 Employees are encouraged not to comment on their work or make reference to ICAB on external web pages such as Facebook.
9.7 If employees are aware of negative or disparaging remarks about ICAB or its services, they must not respond but instead tell their manager who will determine if the comments are worth taking action or not.
9.8 Employees should be aware that colleagues, customers and third parties often have access to the material they may post on the Internet and as such this should be kept in mind when posting information online that can be viewed by more than friends and family. So, they should not post any explicit content or content that may make ICAB vulnerable and open to threat. whether in or out of the organization.
9.9 Employees must ensure that they do not overstep professional boundaries by communicating with or ‘befriending’ clients on social networking sites such as Facebook so as not to disrupt the necessary obligation for the purpose of carrying out their professional duties.
Done by: Mitchelle Arzu
Ashley Stanford
Neidy Cantun
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