ABSTRACT
This text was produced during a time of continuing upheaval in the global financial services industry. Seemingly never-ending negative reports of additional difficulties in the markets, crises in different sectors and jurisdictions, the emergence of a host of scandals and tales of wrong-doing across the corporate world – all of these provided the backdrop to its development. On the plus side, however, it was also written during a time of concerted collective effort on the parts of international and governmental bodies, of regulators, policymakers, practitioners, researchers and educators across many different jurisdictions and sectors, of firms large and small, and of course of individuals working within them, to actively stem this tide of negativity. Each in different ways has put their effort into the production of policy reviews and frameworks, new or enhanced legislation, additional prudential and conduct requirements, codes of best practice, guidance and recommendations on a whole host of linked topics including governance, culture, ethics, standards, regulation, supervision methodologies, roles of boards and of supervisors, internal controls, risk management, revised models of regulation, assurance methodologies … and so on. With this positive swell of focus and prioritisation in the balance against the negative back-swell of difficulties and wrong-doing, it is hoped that through these combined efforts the mutual goals of improving standards within the corporate world and of encouraging a more robust ethical culture within it will be achieved – or at the very least, much improved – to the benefit of us all.
