A new report from the Institute's professional conduct team will be published in September, highlighting key results and achievements from the financial year ending 30 June 2006. 
 
The Institute has a duty to uphold the highest possible standards of behaviour by members. Its professional conduct area rigorously enforces ethical, technical and professional standards through investigation of complaints and other issues and, where appropriate, imposing disciplinary sanctions.  
 
Tribunal results 
During the year to 30 June 2006, the Institute investigated 298 complaints and other issues concerning the conduct of its members. Of these, 31 matters were referred to the professional conduct tribunal, which imposed sanctions ranging from exclusion from membership to a mandated quality review. 
 
This level of complaints and issues is encouraging, considering they represent a tiny fraction of the many thousands of tasks carried out by members every year. 
 
Nevertheless, where issues are identified, the professional conduct process is rigorous, independent and transparent. 
 
Enhancing professional conduct 
Although the Institute’s ability to discipline members does not have the force of law, professional conduct has benefited from increased rigour, independence and transparency during the past year. This was achieved through a series of initiatives, including:

• Global activities
  • Benchmarking the Institute’s processes against major accountancy bodies in other countries. This process confirmed that the Institute’s practices meet global best practice
  • Participating in a detailed self-assessment of procedures and policies through an International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) survey. Early indications are that the Institute’s professional conduct practice meets rigorous IFAC statement of member obligations

• Relevant products and services
  • Developing case hearing guidelines for members of the professional conduct and appeal tribunals
  • Securing Star Initiatives Grant funding to develop a toolkit to help members resolve client disputes appropriately (available free from the Institute website from late-September 2006).

• Corporate governance
  • Amending the Institute’s regulations to ensure all members introduce a formal client complaints procedure
  • Amending Institute by-laws to deliver greater transparency during disciplinary issues. The Institute may now publish the name of a member who resigns in the face of disciplinary action, including alleged professional misconduct.
   
  
• Leadership initiatives
  • Provision of detailed information to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) as part of its review of the professional bodies’ professional conduct processes, particularly as they relate to audit
  • Announcing an investigation of a member to the media (if it relates to a member who is subject to serious adverse publicity) when it is the public interest to do so.