Kpmg Code of Conduct Latest
Kpmg Code of Conduct Latest
KPMG’s Code
of Conduct
kpmg.com
KPMG’S CODE OF CONDUCT sets forth our core values, shared responsibilities,
global commitments, and promises. Additionally, the Code provides you with
general guidance about the firm’s expectations, situations that may require
particular attention, additional resources and channels of communication, as well as
illustrative questions and answers. Please review the entire Code. As a part of the
annual confirmation process, you will be asked to confirm in writing that you have
reviewed the Code, and understand and agree to adhere to our core values, shared
responsibilities, global commitments, and promises.
Contents
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN 1 Physical and Electronic Security 18
OUR CODE AND OUR COMMITMENT 2 Intellectual Property 20
Accurate Books and Records 22
Our Core Values and Global Code 3
Clients and the Marketplace
Shared Responsibilities Our Commitments 24
Individual Responsibilities 4 Independence and Conflicts of Interest 24
Management Responsibilities 5 Confidentiality and Privacy 26
Known or Suspected Illegal Acts by Clients 28
Getting Help Work Quality 30
Raising Your Hand 6 Doing Business with Governments 32
Channels of Communication 7 Ethical Marketing and Fair Competition 34
Confidential and Anonymous Reporting 8 Client and Engagement Acceptance 36
Preventing Retaliation 9 Time and Expense Charges 38
Ensuring Compliance with Our Code 10
Public and Community
Our People Our Commitments 40
Our Commitments 12 Guarding Against Bribery and Corruption 40
Respect and Dignity 12 Responding to Regulatory and Other
Legal Proceedings 42
Personal Safety and Well-Being 14
Media and Public Relations 44
Political Contributions 46
Our Firm
Our Commitment to the Community 48
Our Commitments 16
Professional Licensing and
Continuing Education 16 Additional Resources 50
This document and associated policies are not intended to create an employment contract and do not create any contractual rights. Our Code does not replace
or supersede the more technical guidance issued by KPMG in many of the topic areas covered by the Code. If you believe that any provision of the Code may be
interpreted as differing from an applicable law, regulation, professional standard, or other firm policy, please consult the appropriate personnel, as set forth more
fully herein. In the interim, if immediate action is required, the more restrictive guidance should be applied.
NOTE: This document is effective July 9, 2008 (updated July 2015, September 3, 2015). Most URLs listed in this document are internal to KPMG
and cannot be accessed from outside the KPMG network.
© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
L E TT E R F ROM T H E CHAIRM AN
Lynne Doughtie
CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Our Code of Conduct is the cornerstone Guided by our core values and
of our ethics and compliance program. compliance with applicable laws,
It helps us to articulate our standards of regulations, and professional standards,
behavior, as we approach our work with we continue to pursue ways to
professionalism and integrity. Everyone strengthen KPMG’s ethical culture.
at KPMG is expected to do the right It is important that every one of us
thing, in the right way. This approach feels comfortable raising concerns and
directly contributes to the success of identifying potential issues, and we
our strategic priorities, as we look to offer many channels of communication
grow our business by working with to seek guidance and report concerns.
companies that share our values and by At KPMG, we do not tolerate retaliation
recruiting and retaining employees who against anyone who raises a concern
take pride in the positive contributions in good faith, and we are proud of our
they make to our ethical culture. proactive efforts to prevent it through our
robust retaliation monitoring program.
Our culture is built on the principle
that every individual must take Both the firm and the profession expect
personal responsibility for ethics and a lot of you, but remember that you
compliance. As individuals, we take have the full support of firm leadership.
ownership, stay informed, lead by Thank you for the great work you do
example, consult with others, stand every day and for your continuing
firm, and raise our hands when we see commitment to acting with integrity.
something that is inconsistent with our
values or professional responsibilities.
Based on KPMG’s Core Values, the KPMG’s Core Values define who we are, what we do, and
Global Code of Conduct provides
how we do it. They define our culture and our commitment
the primary standards of ethical
conduct that KPMG requires to the highest principles of personal and professional
around the world. It identifies conduct. They also represent how our people relate to each
the shared commitments and other, what we expect of our clients and vendors, and what
responsibilities expected of every
others should expect of us.
member firm.
To ensure compliance with local WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE—at all levels acting in a way that
laws, policies, and professional exemplifies what we expect of each other and our member
standards, the member firms’ firms’ clients.
Codes align with the Global
Code and provide local resources WE WORK TOGETHER—bringing out the best in each other
available for consultation and creating strong and successful working relationships.
and assistance.
WE RESPECT THE INDIVIDUAL—respecting people for who
they are and for their knowledge, skills, and experience as
individuals and team members.
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NDPPS 375683
Management Responsibilities
Whether you are a partner or a supervisor of a small team,
those with management responsibilities should help ensure
that our people understand that ethics and integrity are the
cornerstone of our business conduct by:
SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES 5
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NDPPS 375683
Getting Help
Raising Your Hand
RAISE YOUR HAND WHENEVER:
Ask questions if you are unsure about You also are expected to report
You see behavior that may be the appropriate legal or ethical course potential or suspected violations of
inconsistent with our values, or if of action in a given situation, including, law, regulation, or KPMG policy. This
you have a question or concern. for instance, situations when: includes situations when you know or
Any concern you raise will be suspect partners, employees, or others
• You are not sure how to apply the
constructively reviewed and in a business relationship with KPMG
firm’s policies to a specific situation
considered, and consistent and are—or are about to be—engaged in
appropriate action will be taken. • The relevant laws or professional illegal or unethical activity.
practice rules are complex and
Although it is not your role to search
difficult to interpret
proactively for potential misconduct by
• You have limited experience dealing clients beyond what is required by our
with the subject matter professional responsibilities, if behavior
comes to your attention or you observe
• Differences of opinion make the
activities at a client that are potentially
appropriate course of action unclear
illegal or may raise ethical concerns,
• Potential actions or decisions make you must raise your concerns so they
you uncomfortable can be fully addressed.
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NDPPS 375683
Channels of Communication
To assist you with seeking advice or reporting concerns, the firm has established
several “channels of communication.” These are formal systems designed to
ensure that your question or concern is addressed completely and accurately.
While you should choose the channel you – The Department of Professional • For questions related to matters
feel most comfortable with, resources Practice involving U.S. Securities and Exchange
closest to the situation are often in a better – Washington National Tax Commission audit clients and their
position to resolve an issue. This usually – The Chief Compliance Officer foreign operations, you may contact
means your PML. – Firm leadership, including the KPMG’s ombudsman, who serves as
chairman, deputy chairman, and board an additional channel of communication
Depending on the issue, you may wish to
members for such matters and oversees their
consider other channels of communication.
• For Human Resources–related investigation and resolution. To contact
• For certain client, engagement, or concerns, including harassment, the ombudsman directly, visit the
professional practice-related concerns, discrimination, and issues involving ombudsman page.
consultation with others may be individual behavior or your work
• For general assistance, questions,
required by firm policy. However, even if environment, your local or area Human
or advice related to KPMG’s Code of
consultation is not required, you should Resources manager may be an
Conduct, you may contact the firm’s
feel comfortable seeking advice from or additional resource.
Ethics and Compliance Group.
reporting a concern to:
• For questions related to legal matters,
• For any question that you feel
– Your engagement partner(s) including contracts or disputes
uncomfortable raising to the resources
– Your PML with external parties, litigation or a
noted above, you may contact
– Your practice leader, service line leader government investigation, firm guidance
the firm’s Ethics and Compliance
or office managing partner requires you to contact the Office of
hotline, as described on the next
– A Professional Practice partner or Risk General Counsel.
page, at www.kpmgethics.com
Management partner
or 1-877-576-4033.
GETTING HELP 7
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NDPPS 375683
Getting Help
Confidential and Anonymous
Reporting
If you would like to ask a question or report a concern
anonymously, you may contact the KPMG Ethics and
Compliance Hotline.
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NDPPS 375683
Preventing Retaliation
You are encouraged to seek advice or report concerns, without fear of retaliation.
Retaliation in any form is contrary to our core values. KPMG prohibits retaliation
against anyone who, in good faith, reports a concern or participates in an
investigation, even if the allegation ultimately is not substantiated.
The firm also has a program designed Of course, our policy against retaliation Contact the Hotline if you feel you
to protect known reporters and does not exempt you from the or others have been subjected to
witnesses who report concerns or consequences of your own improper retaliation. Partners or employees found
otherwise participate in an investigation conduct or prevent the firm from taking to have engaged in retaliatory conduct
in good faith. This program monitors disciplinary action against you, when will be subject to discipline, up to
employment status, performance appropriate. However, we encourage and including termination and partner
evaluations and metrics, and self-reporting and, depending on the separation.
chargeability for identified individuals, specific circumstances, may treat self-
and follows up when necessary to reporting as a mitigating factor when
determine whether an individual may assessing disciplinary measures in
have been subject to retaliation. response to improper conduct.
GETTING HELP 9
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NDPPS 375683
Getting Help
Ensuring Compliance with
Our Code
Anyone who violates our Code or the policies it is based on,
regardless of title or tenure, may be subject to discipline,
up to and including separation from the firm. The following
actions may subject partners and employees to discipline:
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NDPPS 375683
To help ensure fair and consistent • Legal, Risk and Regulatory • The Management Review Panel
enforcement of our Code, KPMG’s Committee—the principal (MRP)—monitors discipline and
governance incorporates a number of management-level structure through other remedial actions taken in
checks and balances. For example, which legal, professional practice, response to substantiated incidents
we have separated risk management regulatory, compliance, ethics, of noncompliance with applicable
from business operations. The following independence and related risk law, regulation, or firm policy, and
committees oversee the firm’s management issues are reported to helps ensure fairness and consistency
compliance program initiatives, and the Board (through the Professional of remedial action across the firm.
help ensure the fairness and Practice, Ethics and Compliance The MRP is comprised of senior
consistency of investigation outcomes Committee of the Board), and leaders from all functions within
and any related disciplinary actions: through which the firm’s related risk KPMG and also is charged with
management actions are monitored. determining sanctions for violations of
• The Board of Directors
the firm’s independence policies.
• Professional Practice, Ethics and
• Chief Compliance Officer—
Compliance Committee (comprised of
responsible for the overall day-to-
members of the Board of Directors)
day execution of KPMG’s ethics
and compliance program, with an
independent reporting relationship
to the Chair of the Board’s
Professional Practice, Ethics and
Compliance Committee.
GETTING HELP 11
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NDPPS 375683
Our People
Our Respect and Dignity
Commitments OUR PROMISE
A Many situations involve balancing our responsibilities to our people and to our
clients. A client may ask us to staff engagements in different regions of the
world with individuals who are familiar with local language and customs. However,
meeting this request must be balanced with our commitment to our people. In this
situation, you should discuss with the client how you intend to ensure that overall
engagement staffing meets the client’s needs, and explain that you need flexibility
to select the individuals you believe are the most qualified. The firm will work with
you to manage such situations consistent with our values, even if it means losing
the engagement.
OUR PEOPLE 13
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NDPPS 375683
Our People
Personal Safety and Well-Being
OUR PROMISE
• Reach out for help if you have issues • Possible signs of a colleague’s
with substance abuse impairment or illness at work
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A It may not be clear whether someone truly intends to commit a violent act,
but if someone threatens to act violently toward another person, you should
immediately notify your engagement partner, Human Resources manager, or
Security personnel.
OUR PEOPLE 15
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NDPPS 375683
Our Firm
Our Professional Licensing and
Commitments Continuing Education
KPMG IS COMMITTED TO: OUR PROMISE
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A Yes. In many states, licensing requirements apply to all CPAs, not just
partners. Prior to performing professional services in a state where you do
not maintain an active CPA license, you must ensure that you are compliant with
local CPA licensing requirements, including the possibility of practicing accounting
without a local license under that state’s CPA mobility law.
OUR FIRM 17
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NDPPS 375683
Our Firm
Physical and Electronic Security
OUR PROMISE
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q
not on site?
I typically leave my laptop at the client site. Can I give my password to
my colleagues so they will be able to access my computer while I am
A No. You should not provide your password to another person. Each individual
is responsible for all system activity that occurs with his or her password.
Instead, you should plan ahead to provide the appropriate information before leaving
the office.
Q My office has entrances that require a KPMG badge to gain access. This
morning someone I did not recognize was standing by the door waiting
to go inside. She followed me into the building when I swiped my badge and
the door opened. What should I do?
OUR FIRM 19
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NDPPS 375683
Our Firm
Intellectual Property
OUR PROMISE
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q My client is updating her accounts payable policy and asked if I have any sample policies I can
give her. I just rolled off a similar engagement and have a copy of my prior client’s accounts
payable policy. If I remove references to the old client’s name in the document, can I provide the
policy to the new client?
A No. Clients expect us to maintain the confidentiality of the documents we receive from them on
engagements. Even though we leverage our personal experience from prior engagements, we have
a responsibility to protect KPMG’s intellectual property and the intellectual property of our clients.
Q While at my former firm, I developed a tool I would like to adapt for use on a client engagement
at KPMG. This would be more efficient than “starting from scratch.” May I do this?
A Probably not. You should consult with the Office of General Counsel because, even though you
developed the tool, it most likely belongs to your former employer and you have no right to use it.
Although you may be changing it by adapting it to a new situation, if you don’t have the rights to the
underlying work, you probably don’t have the right to make a “derivative work.”
OUR FIRM 21
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NDPPS 375683
Our Firm
Accurate Books and Records
OUR PROMISE
• Report time worked accurately and • Pressure to refrain from charging all
completely time spent working on client projects,
to charge any client-related time to
• Properly manage the finances of all
administrative codes, or to charge a
internal and external projects
client engagement code for work not
• Reconcile Work in Process (WIP) performed or done for a different client
reports to ensure the engagement or administrative activity
partner approves all write-offs of time
• Improper engagement charges either
and expenses charged to a project
due to miscoding or that are outside the
• Maintain accurate business terms of the engagement letter
information, including engagement
• Accounting methods that appear to
documents and deliverables, payroll
favor form over substance
records, performance evaluations, and
time and expense reports • Transactions that may suggest
another party is attempting to use its
relationship with KPMG for an unlawful
purpose
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A Where the work is performed. This mandatory field is necessary for the firm
to comply with individual taxing authorities, which base taxation on the
jurisdiction where the work was performed.
OUR FIRM 23
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NDPPS 375683
Clients and the Marketplace
Our Independence and Conflicts
Commitments of Interest
KPMG IS COMMITTED TO: OUR PROMISE
• Acting lawfully and ethically, and We are dedicated to following standards of personal
encouraging this behavior in others
and professional independence. You should avoid real
• Delivering quality service to or perceived conflicts of interest, which may arise from
clients in line with qualifications,
personal investments, financial or business relationships,
professional commitments, and
engagement terms employment of family members, or other employment
relationships.
• Maintaining independence and
objectivity, and avoiding conflicts of
interest or undue influence IT STARTS WITH YOU BE ALERT TO
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A No. In this situation, you provide audit services to the bank, and therefore,
you are a “Member of the Firm” with respect to that client for independence
purposes. Accordingly, you may not obtain loans with this restricted entity. However,
you may take out a mortgage from KPMG Audit clients for whom you are not a
“Member of the Firm.” As an associate, this would be any entity to which you do
not provide professional services.
A Yes. Rules applying to the employment of family members could affect the
firm’s and your independence. These rules address the employment of a family
member and related issues, such as investments held through a spouse’s benefit
plan. You should consult with the Risk Management-Independence Group or your
Professional Practice Partner to determine whether the employment of your spouse
is permissible under applicable Independence rules.
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q
announced?
I am an associate and have been conducting due diligence on a company my client intends
to acquire. Can I buy the stock of the company being acquired before the acquisition is
A No. Because you know the acquisition is possible, but not yet announced to the investing public,
you are in possession of material nonpublic information that could affect the value of a company’s
securities. Trading securities on inside information can result in serious criminal penalties.
Q I need to work over the weekend on files containing confidential client information. Can I save
the information to a public file site, and access it from my home computer?
A No. Our clients trust KPMG to protect their information, and we are required to do so under applicable
professional standards, law and our agreements with them. Firm policy prohibits use of public file
sharing sites and personal computers because they are not secure and are not appropriate for storing
or exchanging client information. Additionally, firm policy prohibits you from using your personal computer
for work.
Q While performing an audit of a 401(k) plan, the client provided us with an extract from its
Human Resources system that contains information we do not need to conduct the audit,
including Social Security numbers for all plan participants. Should the team be concerned about
keeping this information?
A Yes. The collection and handling of any confidential information, including personal information, should
be avoided whenever possible. If the information is not required to perform our services, we should
politely decline to accept it, or, if possible, return it to the client. Alternatively, if the information does not need
to be retained or preserved, you may dispose of it in the firm-approved secure manner.
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q I am the Audit engagement manager for a small nonpublic company. My client received a
grand jury subpoena seeking information about payments to one of its suppliers. The client
assured me the subpoena is not directed at it, but at the supplier. What should I do?
A Promptly consult your lead Audit engagement partner, who will contact your Engagement Quality
Control Review (EQCR) partner and your Professional Practice Partner. Together they will decide
whether the matter is clearly inconsequential. In this case, the grand jury subpoena is likely to be a significant
concern; thus, it may be appropriate for your engagement partner to escalate the issue by reporting it to the
Department of Professional Practice, the Office of General Counsel, and your Professional Practice Partner.
Escalating the concern allows KPMG to adequately evaluate the subpoena and consider whether it suggests
the client has engaged in an illegal act.
A You should report this issue. You may raise it with your engagement partner, your concurring review
partner, your Professional Practice Partner, or others, who should in turn consult with the Department of
Professional Practice or the Office of General Counsel on the matter. Your role in raising the concern is critical.
• Ensure that your team has the right • Pressure from a client not to explore
skills and experience to serve your fully certain areas or to complete
client’s needs something more quickly than you are
comfortable with
• Foster a culture within your
engagement team to encourage • Propensity to “explain away” issues
open and honest communication, that warrant heightened professional
and supervise the work of others skepticism
effectively, providing feedback that
• Potential solutions that may be
will enhance the skills of other
technically within the rules, but do not
professionals
meet the spirit of the rules
• Understand the scope of work
• Feeling there is insufficient time to
assigned to you and the overall scope
deliver quality client service due either
of the engagement
to the amount of work or complexity
• Apply firm-approved methodologies of the subject matter
and procedures
• Use of previous engagement
• Maintain an appropriate level of workpapers as templates for a current
professional skepticism by formulating engagement without ensuring they
your own judgments and remaining continue to be appropriate and
free of undue influence relevant
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q We have a new engagement opportunity and the client wants us to start work
immediately. The individuals with the appropriate level of skill and experience are
unavailable to begin for two weeks. However, less experienced professionals without
sufficient training are available. What should I do?
A It is the engagement partner’s responsibility to staff projects with people qualified for the
assignment. If qualified resources are not available locally, identify available resources in other
geographies. If you are still unable to identify qualified professionals, consider postponing the start
date or working on the part of the engagement that the available professionals can perform. Or, if
necessary, you may decline the engagement, knowing you will be supported in your decision.
Q Our engagement team is behind schedule. To meet a deadline, we decided to skip some
procedures we originally agreed with the client to perform. I don’t think skipping the
procedures will impact our final recommendations, but is this the right thing to do?
Q A client asked me to review a process related to the scope of our engagement. This
request is in addition to our planned procedures. What should I do?
A Additional requested work, often called “scope creep,” can be hard to identify because such
a request may relate to work being performed within scope. However, if a client requests any
additional work, inform your engagement manager. The engagement team should discuss the request
with the client to determine whether the engagement letter needs to be amended and an additional
Sentinel approval requested in light of the initial agreed-upon scope.
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q I recently joined KPMG after working for a government agency for 15 years.
Am I permitted to market KPMG’s services to my former employer?
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NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q I am a director who is often asked to help write business proposals to potential clients.
A partner asked me to draft a qualifications statement and include several résumés of
highly qualified individuals. However, I believe these individuals are not available to work on the
engagement if we win it. Should I add these résumés?
A Not without first discussing your concerns with the partner. The résumés should be added only if it
is clear in the proposal that the individuals will not be working directly on the engagement. To include
their résumés without an open and honest description of their roles could be misleading to the potential
client. Also, if the individuals are not aware that their résumés are being used in your proposal, you should
ensure that they are properly informed.
Q I had lunch with a partner at one of our competitors. We recognized that, in our market,
KPMG has a stronger client base in financial services, while his firm tends to focus on retail
companies. He proposed that in the future, I should only go after banking clients and he would only
pursue retailers. This may be beneficial to both our firms. Can we do this?
A No. This would be an inappropriate agreement to allocate market share and could have the adverse
effect of restricting competition. Significant criminal penalties are attached to these agreements,
which violate the antitrust laws, and you should not be involved in such discussions with a competitor.
If a competitor makes such a proposal to you, disengage from the conversation and promptly contact the
Office of General Counsel.
Q I have often heard my manager say to potential clients that our competitors “don’t know
what they’re doing,” and that there is a “rumor” their clients are dissatisfied. Is this an
acceptable way to win business?
A No. Your manager’s practice-building efforts should never be tainted by unsubstantiated rumors and
innuendo about KPMG’s competitors. Instead of making disparaging statements, your manager
should decline to pass judgment on our competitors and talk instead about the positive attributes of our
knowledge and resources.
36 ETHICS &CODE
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© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q A major company just terminated its outside auditor. The former audit partner is a personal
friend and told me the company has unreported going concern issues. This could be a very
lucrative account, but I am hesitant to pursue this company’s business given what I know. What
should I do?
A As you should in any circumstance, perform the entire engagement acceptance process thoroughly
and review background and reference-check results closely. You should ensure that the issue is
properly discussed with the former auditor as part of the formal process required before accepting a new
Audit client. Additionally, you should advise Risk Management – Audit of these allegations and obtain its
approval before accepting the company as a new Audit client.
Q A private investment fund engaged me to provide tax advice. The client would like to pay
a retainer to incur costs before the end of its fiscal year. The retainer check was from an
offshore bank, and shortly after the engagement began, the client decided it no longer needed such
extensive support and has requested a refund of the remaining retainer. Should I be concerned?
A Yes. Funds provided by offshore banks or from the accounts of third parties could indicate a desire
to conceal the true source of the funds. A refund check from KPMG would provide the client a
monetary instrument that makes the funds appear to be legitimate.
• Accurately record all time and • Pressure to refrain from charging all
expenses in the period the work was time spent working on client projects,
performed, and ensure that your team to charge any client-related time to
members do so as well administrative codes, or to charge a
client engagement code for work not
• Provide an adequate description for all
performed or work done for a different
work performed
client or administrative activity
• Be prudent when incurring expenses
• “Banking time” by spreading hours
and take personal responsibility for
worked between or among periods
ensuring that they are reasonable
• Fraudulent expense claims or personal
• Ensure that expense reimbursements
expenses claimed as business
that are taxable to individuals are not
expenses
coded as business expenses
• Invoicing clients based on untrue
• Obtain prior authorization when
accounts of time or expenses, which
required or, if you question whether
may constitute criminal fraud
the expense is permissible, before
incurring the expense
38 ETHICS &CODE
KPMG’S COMPLIANCE
OF CONDUCT
REPORT 2007
© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q My senior manager told me that I am billing too much time to the client
project number. He says that I should not bill more than eight hours a day
to the project even though I work at least 10 hours every day. What should I do?
A Accurately record the number of client-related hours you worked in the firm’s
systems. If your senior manager questions the time it takes to complete the
task, seek guidance on how the task may be performed more efficiently. If your
senior manager persists, you should raise the issue with your engagement partner or
another appropriate channel of communication. You should not, however, “eat” time
spent on legitimate activities, charge only estimated equivalent productive hours, or
charge your time to a project code that has built-in profit and can be “hit” to absorb
additional fees or expenses.
Q We just finished a large engagement, and I would like to have a dinner for
the team at a fun venue. Is this appropriate?
• Prohibiting bribery and corruption by We are committed to conducting business fairly and ethically,
our people and not tolerating illegal
and avoiding even the perception that KPMG would offer a
or unethical behavior by our clients or
suppliers or by public officials bribe to obtain an advantage. Bribery entails offering anything
of value, including favors, to influence a person in a position of
• Acting as a responsible corporate
citizen and following high principles trust. You should never offer anything of value to influence the
of ethical conduct around the world decision of a person acting on behalf of another organization,
• Teaming with other businesses and you should never accept anything of value from a
and with charitable organizations to person attempting to influence your professional judgment
create stronger communities or decision making. Additionally, many countries have anti-
• Enhancing the role of the accounting bribery and anticorruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt
professional and building trust in the Practices Act in the United States, that prohibit bribes to
global capital markets
government officials. You should never offer anything of value
to influence the decision of any government representative.
40 ETHICS &CODE
KPMG’S COMPLIANCE
OF CONDUCT
REPORT 2007
© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A It depends. Although giving gifts of nominal value (e.g., pens, coffee mugs,
umbrellas) to a state agency staff may be permitted in some circumstances,
individual state laws vary widely on this topic. Consult with the Office of
Government Affairs before giving a gift of even nominal value to an employee
of a government agency, by pre-clearing the gift through the Political Risk and
Compliance System (PRACS). Even if the gift is legally permitted, the appearance of
impropriety or a conflict of interest may exist.
A Probably. Here, the movie passes are considered a gift because the vendor is
not attending the movie with you. In circumstances where it would not create
the appearance of impropriety, you may accept reasonable gifts from third parties
such as our vendors, provided that the value of the gift is not more than $100 and
that you do not accept gifts from the same vendor more than twice in the same year.
42 ETHICS &CODE
KPMG’S COMPLIANCE
OF CONDUCT
REPORT 2007
© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A Yes. You need to advise the attorney that you may have hard copy documents
so those documents may be reviewed. The documents may be different
versions of documents on your laptop, have handwritten notations on them, or have
different time stamps. Even if you think the documents are identical to those on
your computer in all respects, our attorneys need to see them to evaluate whether
they need to be produced.
A Yes. You need to advise the Office of General Counsel that your client received
an inquiry from the SEC, and provide as much detail as possible about the
conversation. The disclosure to KPMG that the SEC has made an “inquiry” to your
client may trigger certain responsibilities on our part, including an obligation to
circulate a document preservation notice.
44 ETHICS &CODE
KPMG’S COMPLIANCE
OF CONDUCT
REPORT 2007
© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q I’m making a presentation at a public hearing at the request of our local government
client. We expect the media to be in attendance. Am I free to discuss the issues with
reporters who approach me at the hearing or in follow-up calls?
A It depends. Unless the client specifically asks you to clarify certain points for a reporter, you
should let your presentation speak for itself or refer any questions directly to the client. If the
client requests that you answer in your role as a KPMG representative, you should contact Corporate
Communications, which will work with you or directly with the media to provide an appropriate
response. If the client also is an audit client of the firm, you also should contact the Risk Management –
Independence Group to ensure that your participation in the public hearing is permissible.
46 ETHICS &CODE
KPMG’S COMPLIANCE
OF CONDUCT
REPORT 2007
© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A No. When making personal political donations, you should be clear that the
donation is being made on a personal level and from personal funds, and that
the donation is not on behalf of KPMG. If the contribution is being made to a state
or local official, you also should check with the Political Risk and Compliance System
(PRACS) to determine if you must first preclear the contribution or report it to the
Office of Government Affairs.
A No. The use of telephones and our office space constitutes providing a “thing of
value” donation made on behalf of the firm. No political donations may be made
on KPMG’s behalf without the prior approval of the Office of Government Affairs.
48 ETHICS &CODE
KPMG’S COMPLIANCE
OF CONDUCT
REPORT 2007
© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A No. This organization will become a restricted entity once KPMG is retained.
Therefore, you may only accept a position if it is clearly honorary. Further,
you cannot vote or otherwise participate in board or management functions. You
should consult with your Professional Practice Partner or the Risk Management –
Independence Group regarding this matter.
Corporate Responsibility
Ethics & Compliance Hotline (for confidential reporting; managed by a third party)
Human Resources
Independence
Tools
Policies
Policy Center
iv
50 KPMG’S
ETHICS &CODE
COMPLIANCE
OF CONDUCT
REPORT 2007
© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
NDPPS 375683
For additional information on our Code or related policies,
please visit the Code of Conduct home page, available
through the Ethics and Compliance Resource Center.
External Parties
For more information on KPMG’s Code of Conduct,
please visit http://www.kpmg.com/US/en/about/Pages/
CodeOfConduct.aspx.