When a person approaches a
professional for any advice, it is uppermost in his mind that integrity,
independence, confidentiality and knowledge is assured. A professional is able
to commend the respect in the society because his motto is “Pride of service
in preference to personal gain”. He is described as one who places public good
above his personal gain. This is the reason why the government financial
institutions, and members of the public rely on professionals for their expert
advice. This reliance imposes a public interest responsibility on all
professionals whether they render services in the field of accounting,
taxation or other fields.
For the success of any professional, it is essential that there is a strong
base provided by the regulating body to which he is answerable. The system of
education, training and examination should be such that he is able to command
the respect and confidence of the members of the society. The users of
professional services require an assurance that the member of the profession
whose services are retained is (i) a person of character and integrity and
(ii) competent and knowledgeable to render professional services.
The character and integrity of a professional will depend on his personal
qualities. This will also be guided by the environment in which he has taken
his education and training as well as the environment in which he is working.
His position can be maintained and strengthened only if the regulating
professional body is able to guide and encourage its members to live up to the
high ethical and professional standards. The prestige and confidence enjoyed
by a professional, to a great, depends on the strictness and scrupulous manner
in which the professional code is implemented.
Professional bodies have identified the following fundamental principles by
which any professional should be governed in the conduct of his professional
relations with others.
(i) Integrity
A professional should be straight forward, honest and sincere in rendering
professional services.
(ii) Objectivity
A professional should be fair and should not allow prejudice or bias, conflict
of interest or influence of others to override objectivity
(iii) Independence
When in public practice, a professional should both be and appear to be
independent. Integrity and independence are the most essential characteristics
of any professional. Independence implies that the judgment of a person is not
subordinate to the wishes or directions of another person who might have
engaged him or to his own self interest.
(iv) Confidentiality
Information acquired in the course of his professional work has to be treated
as most confidential. This should not be disclosed to any one without specific
authority of the client or unless it is required to be disclosed for
compliance with legal or professional requirements.
(v) Technical standards
He must discharge his duties in accordance with the technical and professional
standards relevant to the work assigned to him.
(vi) Professional competence
He must maintain high level of competence throughout his professional career.
He should undertake only such work which he or his firm is competent to handle
and complete within the given time frame.
(vii) Ethical behaviour
A professional should conduct himself in a manner consistent with the good
reputation of the profession and refrain from any conduct which might bring
discredit to the profession.
A professional who keeps the above seven principles before him and adopts them
in his day-to-day practice can achieve great success in his professional
practice. One may say it is difficult to adopt all these principles in the
present day environment. However, if a professional wants to have peace of
mind and get inner satisfaction of having served the society and the
profession, he will have no option but to follow the path identified by the
above principles.
Professional bodies strive to maintain discipline amongst the members not only
in matters relating to their professional conduct but also in relation to
their conduct in other fields. It is for this reason that the regulating
bodies are given power to take disciplinary action against a member if he is
found guilty of “Other misconduct”. There is no precise definition of the term
“Other misconduct”. This is a very wide term. The regulating bodies have,
however, taken the view that a member of the profession is expected to
maintain the highest standards of integrity in his personal conduct and any
deviation from this high standard, even in personal affairs, would expose his
to a disciplinary action.
A professional may be holding an office in a social or service organization in
his personal capacity. He may be a member, treasurer, secretary or chairman of
such organization. He may be an arbitrator, executor, liquidator or trustee in
any trust etc. in his personal capacity. In all such situations his actions
and decisions relating to financial, legal and other matters should be above
board and he should not take any personal benefit in such capacity. This is
because the society expects that a professional person will render service
even in his personal capacity in the same manner as he renders his
professional service.The profession of law and accounting are the noblest
professions and the society expects that each member of the profession should
maintain very high standard of integrity not only in his conduct in the
profession should maintain very high standard of integrity not only in his
conduct in the professional field but also in his personal conduct. In this
context the
eminent counsel, Late Shri Nani, Palkhivala, has once described a “True
Professional” as under :
“First a man must have the courage of his convictions. He must not be coward.
He must honestly believe certain things and he must say publicity what he
believes privately. Secondly, he must have integrity — not only financial
integrity, which is much more common than intellectual integrity. He must have
intellectual honesty which makes him say what he believes to be right. So, if
a Chartered Accountant or a lawyer has intellectual integrity, he will never
give an opinion merely to suit the client. I think every professional man must
have that ideal before him, when advising clients. Thirdly, humility is just
as important as courage and intellectual integrity. The higher a man goes in
life the humbler he should be.”
In the context of the present environment one can do no better than emulate
this message of a great professional who has set very high standards for the
professionals. Let us resolve to follow the ideal set for a “true
professional” and raise the ethical standards in the profession.
