Professional Ethics
Fundamental principles, the public interest, professional and corporate codes, ethical threats, safeguards, conflicts and reporting.
How to study ACCA Applied Knowledge
Learn each principle, practise its application in the computer-based exam format and keep the three independent 50% pass decisions visible.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care, confidentiality and professional behaviour underpin trusted finance work.
Exam cue: Name the threatened principle and the relationship or pressure creating the threat.
Concept 2
Self-interest, self-review, advocacy, familiarity and intimidation threats require evaluation and effective safeguards.
Exam cue: Preserve confidentiality while following authorised or legally required reporting routes.
Concept 3
Ethical decisions consider facts, affected principles, stakeholders, law, alternatives, consequences, documentation and escalation.
Exam cue: Apply safeguards and escalate when a threat cannot be reduced to an acceptable level.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Assuming legal minimum compliance resolves every ethical issue.
Guardrail: Do not import a rule, formula or reporting format from memory without checking the period, units, signs, entity and current syllabus scope.
Treating disclosure as a safeguard that cures any conflict.
Guardrail: Do not import a rule, formula or reporting format from memory without checking the period, units, signs, entity and current syllabus scope.
Following a manager's instruction when it requires misleading or unlawful conduct.
Guardrail: Do not import a rule, formula or reporting format from memory without checking the period, units, signs, entity and current syllabus scope.
Memory anchors
Integrity
Integrity requires honesty and straightforward professional conduct.
Objectivity
Objectivity protects judgement from bias, conflict and undue influence.
Professional Competence
Competence and due care require current knowledge, skill and diligent work.
Confidentiality
Confidential information is protected unless disclosure is authorised or legally required.
Professional Behaviour
Professional behaviour includes compliance and avoiding conduct that discredits the profession.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Which principle requires honesty and straightforwardness?
Which principle protects judgement from bias?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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