Opening message from the Global Chairman
Dear Colleagues,
PwC is recognised as a global leader in professional services, working with many of the world’s most well-known organisations in countries around the world. As the opportunities and challenges we all see get bigger and more complex, we continue to adapt. But as we evolve as a business, what must drive everything we do is our collective and individual commitment to the PwC Purpose and our values -- the foundations of our network.
Bob Moritz, Chairman,
PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited
With over 200,000 of us working across more than 150 countries, we each have a role to play in making a real difference for our clients, the capital markets, our teams, our communities, and our broader stakeholders. We have a responsibility to understand why we do the things we do through our Purpose, what we focus on through our strategy, and how we work together through our values, behaviours, and conduct.
Purpose defines who a business is and why it exists, acting as a vital guidepost and benchmark to every decision. While a business' purpose may remain consistent, a growing challenge is that the expectations society places on all of us continue to change…and changing fast thanks to the big trends we all see and experience like demographic shifts, technological advances, flow of information instantaneously and many others. From environmental footprints to social impacts to investor demands and everything in between, businesses are expected to exhibit responsive and responsible behaviour in more areas and be accountable to an ever wider array of stakeholders.
The trust that our clients, communities and our people place in PwC, and our high standards of ethical behaviour, are fundamental to everything we do. As we go about our work it’s important we have a frame of reference for the decisions we make every day. Our Code of Conduct (Code) can guide us, no matter where we are or what we do. It's how we do business.
The Code reinforces the importance of conducting business within the framework of professional standards, laws, and regulations, together with our own policies, values, and standards, even as we work across borders. It outlines the values and behaviours that define how we do business. It holds us accountable to be open-minded and responsive and to give our best.
What we achieve as PwC is entirely dependent on how we all individually put our Purpose and our values at the centre of everything we do - every day, in every action. So let’s work together to build trust and solve important problems. Let’s encourage collaboration, cultivate curiosity and innovation, act with integrity and foster a sense of care, always.
PwC Purpose: To build trust in society and solve important problems
Message from the Global Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer
The Code of Conduct is based on the PwC Purpose and a core set of shared values, and sets out a common framework around how we are expected to behave and to do the right thing. Knowing, understanding, and living the Code, is a fundamental part of who we are as PwC professionals, and what we stand for. Whether we are working with PwC people or others, we depend on each other to be mindful of our ethical responsibilities.
Laurie Endsley, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, PwC US
Our Code of Conduct reflects the significant changes in our world, the very nature of our work and how we do business today, as well as our need as trusted professionals to understand how to continue to behave ethically in the face of all of these changes. The Code is one of many tools we have as professionals to help guide our behaviour, and is intended to be a framework, not a rulebook. It cannot, and does not, cover every situation you might encounter but rather seeks to embed our values into our day to day behaviours and ethical decision making.
We are all an important part of this effort. Each of us has a part to play in living and upholding the behaviours outlined in this Code. But, we do not go it alone. We are all in this together. We support each other. We rely on each other to understand and adhere to all of these professional behaviours and standards, and apply them consistently. We collaborate on every level, and we help each other build skills in doing the right thing.
If we come across a situation that is inconsistent with our Code, we speak up. We value the courage it takes to raise concerns. Remember, investigations into allegations of misconduct are handled discretely and with sensitivity and we do not tolerate retaliation. When in doubt or facing a dilemma, we ask for help. There are local and network resources available to help us.
I look forward to working with all of you to maintain and foster PwC’s robust ethical culture.
Thank you.
What we do matters
Our Code of Conduct (Code) sets out what’s expected of us. It outlines our core principles—integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care, confidentiality and professional behaviour. It shows how we should turn principles into actions and holds us accountable to always give our best.
Watch the film to learn more.
Explore the Code of Conduct
Speak up
Speaking up when something doesn't seem right demonstrates our integrity and that we have the courage to do the right thing. This section of the Code covers when and how to express concerns and report situations that don't seem right.
Build trust in how we do business
This section of the Code sets out what’s expected of us as professionals. We maintain our reputation by upholding professional standards, adhering to applicable laws and regulations, and fulfilling ethical obligations while delivering high quality, innovative work.
Build trust in how we use information
We respect the privacy and confidentiality of information of our clients, our people and others with whom we do business. We protect personal and other confidential information in all forms and never misuse it. We use good judgement on social media.
Build trust in our communities
This part of the Code addresses how we present ourselves to the world and to the markets in which we operate. We aim to gain the trust of our stakeholders by showing care, openness and honesty, and focusing relentlessly on ethics and quality.
Build trust with each other
The section of the Code talks to how we treat each other at work. Trust is key to working effectively with our colleagues and serving our clients. It begins with each of us treating each other with care, courtesy, dignity, fairness and respect.
