Principle 5 - Speaking Up
5. Members should speak up if they believe, or have reasonable cause to believe, that a course of action is unethical or is unlawful.
5.1 Members should challenge others on their non-compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and professional requirements.
5.2 Members must report to the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, as soon as reasonably possible, any matter which appears to constitute Misconduct for the purposes of the Disciplinary and Capacity for Membership Schemes of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and/or a material breach of any relevant legal, regulatory or professional requirements by one of its Members.
5.3 In addition to complying with any legal requirements to report matters to relevant regulators or other authorities, Members should also report to those bodies any behaviour that they have reasonable cause to believe is unethical or unlawful, and carries significant risk of materially affecting outcomes.
5.4 Members must take reasonable steps to ensure users are aware of any substantial issues with a piece of work for which they are responsible or in which they have had significant involvement, if those issues might reasonably influence the decision-making or judgement of users.
The principle of speaking up requires Members to raise concerns, discuss problems and flag particular issues or behaviours. It can range from simply addressing concerns with team members to making formal reports to the appropriate authorities.
Given the technical nature of actuarial work, it is important that actuaries always identify issues to users of their work as these issues might not be as apparent to non-actuaries.
Find out more in our Guidance on the Speaking Up Principle of the Actuaries’ Code. You can read the Guidance online, download a copy, or view the questions below which will take you to the corresponding part of the Guidance:
What is Speaking Up?
What do you mean by speaking up?
Is speaking up always required?
What is the difference between speaking up and whistle blowing?
What is required of me as a Member?
Within the general duty, are there any specific situations in which I am required to speak up?
Applying the principle to your work
What is unethical conduct – can it differ depending on particular culture or location?
How do I determine what is unethical?
I’ve discovered a substantial issue with a piece of work, what should I do in the first instance?
Who do I speak up to?
Should I follow my employer’s procedures before raising my concerns externally?
Should I speak to anyone before I report concerns to the IFoA?
If I don’t report an issue to the IFoA, could I face disciplinary action?
What behaviour should I report to other regulators or authorities?
How much do I need to know before I report conduct to the authorities?
What information must I flag to clients or other users of my work?
Further guidance
Appendix D - Issues which may occur to Members who consider speaking up
Appendix E - Practical Questions for Members
Appendix F - How to make a complaint to the IFoA
Contact Details
For further information contact:
Regulation Team, The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, Level 2, Exchange Crescent, 7 Conference Square, Edinburgh, EH3 8RA
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Asia Conference 2021 webinar series
Online webinar series26 July 2021 - 30 July 2021
We have made it through 2020 but the COVID-19 crisis continues to have a significant impact on individuals, societies, businesses and the wider economy across the globe. Navigating the world post COVID-19 in an uncertain and highly unstable time brings along many uncertainties, challenges and exciting opportunities. Hence the theme of this year’s IFoA Asia Conference Webinar Series is “Risk. Adapt. Thrive.” -
CMI Income Protection
30 July 2021In April 2021, the CMI Income Protection Committee published Working Paper 149, which detailed the changes to analysis methodology for the Income Protection Investigation and the impact of past data issues. This webinar will provide an overview of the changes in the analysis approach and discuss the adjustments to the IP11 claim inceptions graduations.
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TPR Climate Change Guidance Consultation
17 August 2021
Louise Pryor, IFoA President, will chair this free-to-view session, in which Alex Darsley, TPR, Actuarial Regulatory Policy, will be discussing the regulator’s Climate Change Guidance Consultation, which is seeking views on new guidance designed to help trustees meet tougher standards of governance in relation to climate change ri -
September 2021 - Exam Preparation Techniques Webinar
23 August 2021.
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Internal audit is often the Cinderella of the audit world. It’s a regulatory requirement for insurance companies to have an internal audit function, so why not make it as useful as possible? This session will look at how to link an internal audit plan to the risk register, and how that helps audit committees and boards to spot problems and fix them. -
Climate change is one of the greatest risks facing our world today. Addressing it will require multi-faceted solutions. Through this panel session, we will explore the different levers that can be used to meet net-zero targets including climate science and data, government engagement, and mobilising green finance.
We have made it through 2020 but the COVID-19 crisis continues to have a significant impact on individuals, societies, businesses and the wider economy across the globe. Navigating the world post COVID-19 in an uncertain and highly unstable time brings along many uncertainties, challenges and exciting opportunities. Hence the theme of this year’s IFoA Asia Conference Webinar Series is “Risk. Adapt. Thrive.”
Louise Pryor, IFoA President, will chair this free-to-view session, in which Alex Darsley, TPR, Actuarial Regulatory Policy, will be discussing the regulator’s 
Internal audit is often the Cinderella of the audit world. It’s a regulatory requirement for insurance companies to have an internal audit function, so why not make it as useful as possible? This session will look at how to link an internal audit plan to the risk register, and how that helps audit committees and boards to spot problems and fix them.
Climate change is one of the greatest risks facing our world today. Addressing it will require multi-faceted solutions. Through this panel session, we will explore the different levers that can be used to meet net-zero targets including climate science and data, government engagement, and mobilising green finance.