Skip to content

ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Fundamental principles of ethical behaviour

Tomas, an ACCA member and finance manager, is asked by a friend who works for a competitor to share his employer's unpublished pricing plans over dinner. No legal requirement to disclose applies. Which statement best describes Tomas's position under the fundamental principles?

Tomas must not disclose the pricing plans. The confidentiality principle bars disclosure of information obtained through his work unless there is proper authority or a legal or professional right or duty to disclose. A friend's professional status, a request for secrecy or lack of personal gain does not change this.

  1. AHe may share the plans if he does not gain financially
  2. BHe may share the plans because the friend is also a professional
  3. CHe must not disclose the information to the friend, as the duty of confidentiality applies to information acquired through his workCorrect
  4. DHe may share the plans if he first tells the friend to keep them secret

Explanation

Confidentiality requires that information acquired through professional or business relationships is not disclosed without proper and specific authority or a legal or professional right or duty. None applies here. Lack of personal gain or a promise of secrecy from the friend does not create authority.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Fundamental principles of ethical behaviour shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Fundamental principles of ethical behaviourFree diagnostic mock

More Fundamental principles of ethical behaviour questions