PrintProfessional Conduct and Complaints
As a professional accountancy body operating under a Royal Charter, CIPFA has an obligation to regulate the professional conduct of its members (including student members) in the public interest. It is responsible for defining the professional, ie ethical and technical, standards with which Chartered Public Finance Accountants are expected to comply and to take action where an individual member's conduct falls below the standards to be expected of a professional accountant.
The principles governing CIPFA members' professional conduct are set out in the Standards of Professional Practice or SoPPs and the Ethics Code. These cover the ethical and technical standards with which all CIPFA members and students are expected to comply.
CIPFA investigates all complaints by employers and members of the public about the professional conduct of CIPFA members and will take disciplinary action where conduct has fallen short of the standards to be expected of a professional accountant.
If you are a CIPFA member and a complaint has been lodged against you, it will be dealt with in accordance with the procedure set out in CIPFA's Disciplinary Regulations [PDF file, 368K]. A members' guide to the disciplinary scheme is available here [WORD file, 172K].
If you are the employer of a CIPFA member who is or may be under investigation or you are concerned about the professional conduct of a CIPFA member employed by you, please refer to the Employers' Guide to CIPFA's Disciplinary Scheme.
CIPFA's regulatory and disciplinary functions are subject to independent scrutiny by the Financial Reporting Council.