The Standards
Held to a standard. By the people who set it.
The Institute publishes its standards in full. Every designation holder is bound to them. The public can read them, search the registry, and report violations.
The Oath
The Integritas Oath.
Every Ethical Finance Practitioner is conferred only after affirming the Integritas Oath aloud, before a Registrar of the Institute. The Oath is a binding professional commitment, not a symbolic gesture. It is published in full so that the public may know what every designee has committed to — and so that prospective candidates know exactly what they are committing to before they apply.
I affirm that the trust placed in financial professionals carries profound responsibility. The decisions I make influence organizations, markets, and the well-being of individuals and communities.
I therefore pledge to conduct myself with integrity, honesty, and sound judgment in all financial matters.
I will present financial information truthfully and transparently, recognizing that accurate information is essential to trust and informed decision-making.
I will not misuse confidential or privileged information, nor will I engage in practices that compromise fairness, accountability, or the public trust.
I will identify and appropriately manage conflicts of interest, placing ethical responsibility above personal advantage.
I will exercise diligence and care in the stewardship and allocation of financial resources entrusted to me.
I will uphold the principles of professionalism, competence, and continuous learning, recognizing that ethical practice requires both character and knowledge.
I accept that integrity is not demonstrated in words alone, but through consistent action and accountability.
I accept the authority of the Institute of Ethical Finance, through its Board of Standards and Ethics, in the application and enforcement of the Code of Ethics, and I acknowledge that my designation is held in trust subject to that Code.
In taking this oath, I commit myself to the principles of Integritas — honesty, responsibility, and independence of judgment — and I accept the obligation to uphold these principles throughout my professional life.
The Ceremony
How the Oath is administered.
The Oath ceremony is brief, private, and professional. There are no robes, no audience, and no public recording. It is held virtually with a Registrar of the Institute at a time scheduled by the candidate after they have passed the Ethical Finance Competency Assessment.
The Registrar will read the preamble and confirm the candidate's identity against the registry record. The candidate will then read the Oath aloud and affirm it. The Registrar will witness the affirmation, sign the conferral record, and welcome the new practitioner into the Order. The candidate's registry entry becomes active immediately. The certificate is issued within one business day.
The ceremony is not a formality. It is the structural act that distinguishes the Ethical Finance Practitioner designation from a transactional certificate. The Institute administers it accordingly.
Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
The Code governs the professional conduct of every Institute member. It is the substantive body of standards against which conduct is measured and against which disciplinary action is taken.
Read the full Code of Ethics →
- Integrity and honesty. Members deal truthfully in all professional matters.
- Stewardship. Members exercise care, diligence, and accountability over financial resources entrusted to them.
- Transparency. Members disclose material conflicts and refrain from concealment of material facts.
- Independence of judgment. Members do not compromise professional judgment for personal or institutional gain.
- Confidentiality. Members hold non-public information in trust, subject to legal and ethical disclosure obligations.
- Continued competence. Members maintain the knowledge and skill required to discharge their professional responsibilities.
- Cooperation with the Institute. Members cooperate with Institute inquiries and disciplinary proceedings.
Enforcement.
Allegations of Code violations may be submitted by any party through the Institute's reporting channel. The Board of Standards and Ethics reviews allegations under published procedures and may, after due process, suspend or revoke a designation. Outcomes affecting the active status of a designation are recorded in the public Registry. The reporting channel is monitored by the Office of the Registrar; submissions of bad faith are themselves subject to review.
- Investigation. All credible reports are reviewed by Institute staff and, where warranted, referred to the Board.
- Due process. Designation holders facing inquiry are notified in writing, given the basis of the inquiry, and given opportunity to respond before any adverse action.
- Outcomes. Possible outcomes range from no action, to private censure, to suspension, to revocation of the designation. Suspended and revoked designations appear with that status in the public Registry.
The Practitioner Registry.
Every active designation, every suspension, and every revocation is published in the public Registry. Verification is free and requires no login. The Registry is the single most important credibility instrument the Institute operates.