Articles & Dilemmas

 

FOFA: An ethical debate

30 Apr 14
by Pauline Vamos
Pauline Vamos, ASFA Chief Executive Officer, acknowledges the responsibility of banking and finance professionals to make ethical decisions, particularly considering the asymmetry of information, knowledge and power in the practitioner/client relationship. She urges the industry to engage with this notion on a personal and conversational level, and start from the ground-up with the BFO.

New BFO appointment: Executive Cris Parker

29 Apr 14
by Cris Parker
Cris Parker, the newly appointed Executive of the BFO, introduces herself, outlines her role and discusses her hopes for the future of the BFO.

Short-termism and ethics

29 Apr 14
by Stephen Dunne
Stephen Dunne, BFO Chairman, reflects upon the dangers of finding short-term solutions to financial problems, or ones that deliver results for clients in the shortest time span, as these often hold ethical flaws, and come at the expense of long-term stability and trust. The BFO seeks to improve the ethical fabric of all market participants and thereby build a sustainable industry in the long-term.

Who do you work for?

29 Apr 14
by Clare Payne
Clare Payne, BFO Board Member and Consulting Fellow with St. James Ethics Centre, contemplates the question: who do you work for? She considers the banking and finance industry’s obligation to society at large. As an industry founded upon a social contract with trust at its core, it should ultimately be guided by this philosophy when ethical obligations may seem unclear.

The Oath

  • Trust is the foundation of my profession.
  • I will serve all interests in good faith.
  • I will compete with honour.
  • I will pursue my ends with ethical restraint.
  • I will help create a sustainable future.
  • I will help create a more just society.
  • I will speak out against wrongdoing and support others who do the same.
  • I will accept responsibility for my actions.

In these and all other matters;
My word is my bond.