Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Introduction

The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (“FINEX”) is the leading organization of finance professionals and practitioners dedicated to the advancement of financial knowledge and expertise. To realize this vision, FINEX members shall put the FINEX Core Values (the “Core Values”) enumerated and described below into action when working together in FINEX. To help FINEX members live these Core Values, the Board of Directors of FINEX (the “FINEX
Board”) has developed and adopted this Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (the “FINEX Code”).

The FINEX Code is not exhaustive but, instead, provides a common set of principles to aid FINEX members, individually and collectively, in maintaining a high level of professional conduct. All FINEX members are responsible for understanding and adhering to the FINEX Code. Adherence to, and acting in a manner which will result in strict compliance with the FINEX Code is a condition of continued membership in, and association with, FINEX.
FINEX Core Values

The Core Values form the foundation on which FINEX members perform their functions and conduct themselves. The five FINEX Core Values are:
1. Transparency – “Transparency” helps create trust among stakeholders, encourages more informed decision
  making, and supports greater participation among FINEX members. To promote transparency, FINEX needs to have clarity and consensus about what constitutes success for FINEX as an organization, and should foster open communication:
  1. internally, among all FINEX members and staff, and
  2. externally, to other stakeholders and the general public.
2. Integrity -“Integrity” means the possession of, and steadfast adherence to high ethical principles and professional standards. We as, FINEX members, should always strive to be honest, ethical, and fair in everything we do. We should lead by example and focus on doing the right thing every time. We should accept responsibility and hold ourselves and each other accountable for our actions.
3. Proud to be a Filipino (nationalism) – “Nationalism” as a core value means the feeling of oneness and pride, among FINEX members, in particular, and Filipinos, in general. We need to promote national pride in our abilities, resilience, culture, values, and traditions as a people.
4. Professional Excellence – “Professional excellence” means upholding the highest standards, competency, and distinction in our chosen profession. This involves a commitment of doing what is right, not only for our respective businesses, but for society as a whole. This is defined by how we deal with other FINEX members, our staff, and other stakeholders.
5. Social Responsiveness – “Social responsiveness” involves what we do to uplift and promote the welfare and interests of the society in which our organization operates. This core value dictates the programs and
  initiatives FINEX will pursue, and the advocacies FINEX will adopt and promote.
Guiding Principles and Practices
1. Transparency
  1. Adopt objectiveness as a principle, and refrain from biased and discriminative actions against FINEX itself and FINEX members.
  2. In making public statements, all FINEX members shall:
    1. provide accurate, complete, current, and unbiased information;
    2. clearly distinguish, in both written and oral public statements, between personal
      opinions and official opinions and positions of FINEX and other pertinent
      organizations;
    3. Disclose personal and other relationships that may create conflict of interest and
      information required by laws or good governance practices.
2. Integrity
  1. Always uphold the highest standard of professionalism in dealings with FINEX members, and in all business activities.
  2. Act at all times with honesty, truthfulness, and fairness in all relationships with FINEX itself, FINEX members, and other pertinent organizations.
  3. Do what is right, even when there is great pressure to do otherwise, and take accountability for such actions.
  4. Accept responsibility and fulfill promises and commitments.
1. 1. Respect the rights and interests of all FINEX Members.
2. Professional Excellence
  1. Demonstrate competence, reliability, and authenticity in professional relationships with FINEX members at all times.
  2. Stay up to date with relevant professional developments in order to broaden and deepen personal professional competency.
  3. Work with peers and allied professions to share knowledge and resources.
  4. Encourage and support participation in professional activities
  5. Show respect for diversity of viewpoints; and give constructive criticisms.
3. Proud to be a Filipino (Nationalism)
  1. Exercise individual rights, and perform personal obligations, as a Filipino.
  2. Conduct business and personal dealings in accordance and in compliance with Philippine laws and regulations.
  3. Be aware of the issues in our country and get involved when there are opportunities to help.
  4. Stand proud for all the great achievements by our country and our countrymen.
4. Social Responsiveness
  1. Engage with the broader community, and recognize the wider social issues that impact on financial difficulties and situations.
  2. Work collaboratively with local communities in providing services that best support their needs.
  3. Be sensitive to the family, and the cultural and social contexts of the communities being served.
  4. Commit to protect and conserve the environment, and take active part in promoting and upholding the objectives of sustainable development.
Other Standards and Practices – All FINEX members shall also comply with the following standards and practices:
1. Confidentiality of Information
  1. Strictly observe rules on restrictions on access to classified information and controls on the release of such information to other organizations, parties, or to the general public.
  2. Safeguard restricted or confidential information.
  3. Maintain the integrity of all FINEX and the FINEX member’s own company documents and records, and protect them against unauthorized or improper alteration, forgery, concealment, or destruction.
2. Proper Use of Assets and Resources
  1. Be responsible for the proper use of all assets and resources of FINEX, which include, but are not limited to, information, facilities, equipment, software, and staff.
  2. Use FINEX assets and resources efficiently, responsibly, and for legitimate FINEX business purposes only, and not for the personal benefit of FINEX members.
3. Conflict of Interest
  1. Always act in the best interest of FINEX.
  2. Perform duties and assignments without favor, and refrain from engaging in all matters of financial or personal interest incompatible with the performance of such duties/assignments. Refrain from competing with FINEX.
  3. Do not use material FINEX information of which FINEX members may have knowledge and/or access to by reason of their office in, or position in FINEX for personal advantage or to the advantage of any third party, to the prejudice of FINEX.
  4. Fully disclose to the FINEX Board relevant facts on personal or pecuniary interest on any enterprise with which FINEX has an existing or intended transaction.
4. Harassment
  1. Promote the productivity, dignity, and self-esteem of every FINEX member.
  2. Commit to an environment which is free from harassment. FINEX shall not tolerate any form of harassment. Harassment is unwanted, offensive, degrading, inappropriate, threatening, and unlawful. Harassment can include: taunting, insulting, gesturing, or playing practical jokes, showing or distributing offensive pictures or materials, refusing to converse or work with another FINEX member or an employee or staff member based on the aforementioned grounds, and making unwelcome inquiries about a person’s private life or physical appearance. Sexual harassment is a form of harassment. Sexual harassment is deliberate, unsolicited, and unreciprocated behavior that is generally comprised of offensive sexual comments, gestures, or physical contact, either on a one-time basis, or in a continuous series of incidents. Unwanted sexual advances, unwanted requests for sexual favors, and other unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment.
5. Reporting of Non-Compliance with the FINEX Code FINEX members, whether individually or collectively, shall promptly report any non-compliance with, or violation of, this FINEX Code that may come to their knowledge and attention, in accordance with the Policy and Procedures in Handling Complaints Involving Ethics. The FINEX Board assures FINEX members that it will not carry out or, to the fullest extent within its power, permit any retribution or retaliation of any kind for reports made in good faith regarding known or reasonably suspected non-compliance with, or violation of, this FINEX Code.
6. Implementation and Monitoring The FINEX Board, through the Ethics Committee, is responsible for monitoring compliance with the FINEX Code. Each FINEX member will be held accountable for non-compliance with, and/or violation of, this FINEX Code. Any non-compliance with, or violation of, this FINEX Code will be dealt with in accordance with the Policy and Procedures for Handling Complaints Involving Ethics.