Take the IntegrityMatters test
IntegrityMatters was originally launched as an elective test, but in April 2013 the CISI became the first financial services professional body to require exam candidates in the wholesale and capital markets sectors to pass an integrity test. In addition, all individuals wishing to join the CISI as a member must first complete and pass the hour-long test. This places integrity and ethics at the core of CISI's expectation of members, alongside its code of conduct.
IntegrityMatters was originally launched as an elective test, but in April 2013 the CISI became the first financial services professional body to require exam candidates in the wholesale and capital markets sectors to pass an integrity test. In addition, all individuals wishing to join the CISI as a member must first complete and pass the hour-long test. This places integrity and ethics at the core of CISI's expectation of members, alongside its code of conduct.
The test puts users through a series of ethical dilemmas they may face at work, and asks them to decide what they would do in that situation.
CISI CEO Simon Culhane, Chartered FCSI said: "IntegrityMatters has been a great success because the scenarios are all real and practical. As the fundamental tenets of integrity are common throughout the world, candidates globally can achieve success, regardless of their location. In 2015 IntegrityMatters was translated into Spanish, and over 6,000 of the 50,000 tests have been completed by Spanish candidates in their native language.
"This milestone also reflects the significant cultural change made by many financial professionals following the financial crisis. Since the Institute’s formation in 1992, we have been working with firms and individuals to help shape the ethical backbone of financial services. IntegrityMatters is an important aspect of how we impart behaviour and professional conduct."
Gavin Sahota MCSI, trainee investment manager at Brooks Macdonald, Tunbridge Wells, Kent recently successfully completed the IntegrityMatters test. To help us mark the milestone of having reached over 50,000 tests taken, he provided an account of his experience: "I believe [the test] was a highly beneficial experience. It reinforced the use of several key principles when carrying out my daily responsibilities, including honesty, openness, transparency and fairness. The use of real-life scenarios made the test relevant to my career as they are situations I could face during my time in the financial services sector. What I found most helpful about the test was that it encouraged me to think of the potential impact, from an integrity point of view, that a range of actions would have in a given situation."
"The use of real-life scenarios made the test relevant to my career"
Awad Elkarim Mohamed Ahmed Awad Elkarim ACSI, group head of internal audit at Hayel Saeed Anam (HSA) Group, UAE also recently completed the test. He said: "It is important to instil a culture of integrity where all employees are comfortable speaking up when they witness potential misconduct. A culture of integrity functions as a potent risk management tool. The IntegrityMatterstest consists of amazing case studies which are representative of real dilemmas faced during my internal audit long practical experience in varied cultures and countries. The test encourages reaction thinking and how to respond to integrity issues. The lessons learnt from the IntegrityMatters test will help me in executing my current duties and responsibilities.”
The CISI's motto of ‘My word is my bond’ is central to its efforts to show that professional conduct is a critical complement to business and financial services industry knowledge. Scott Dobbie CBE FCSI(Hon), chairman of the CISI from 2000 to 2009, summed up the essence of this commitment to professional behaviour, saying: "The sound advice given to me on joining a small Edinburgh stockbroker in the early 1970s was 'client first, firm second and self third'; advice that has stood the test of time."