Module ASB-4446:
Financial Ethics & Regulation

Module Facts

Run by Bangor Business School

15.000 Credits or 7.500 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Prof John Ashton

Overall aims and purpose

The module considers financial ethics and conduct of business regulation of institutions and individuals working in the financial services industry. The module is aimed at Post Graduate students within the business school studying certain professionally accredited courses. The module moves through a range of concerns from examples of poor ethical practice in financial services, business ethics and how these can be applied in the financial setting and the forms of conduct of business regulation employed in the UK and internationally to counter poor conduct and ethical behaviour in financial services markets. The module is focused on developing professional and ethical practice of financial services managers as well as assisting an individual to navigate ethical decision making in the financial services industry at a time of increased public and regulatory scrutiny.

Course content

The lecture programme will outline the principle areas of content with specific skills honed within seminars. The lecture programme will be introduced through considering past cases of poor ethical practice in financial services industry to motivate the subsequent studies. The module will then develop to consider moral and normative ethics in a business context, the application of ethical principles within key financial services areas including lending, investment and trading. The lecture programme will then consider the role of individuals, organisations and corporate governance arrangements in financial services decision making, expected professional standards and the evolution of conduct of business regulation internationally within the financial services industry.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

o Knowledge of key areas/principles o Understands main areas o Limited evidence of background study o Answer focussed on question but also with some irrelevant material and weaknesses in structure o Arguments presented but lack coherence o Has several factual errors o No original interpretation o Only major links between topics are described o Limited problem solving o Some weaknesses in presentation and accuracy

C- to C+

C- to C+ (50-59%): Much of the relevant information and skills mostly accurately deployed. Adequate grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Fair integration of theory/practice/information in the pursuit of the assessed work's objectives. Some evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

good

o Understands most but not all o Evidence of background study o Focussed answer with good structure o Arguments presented coherently o Mostly free of factual errors o Some limited original interpretation o Well known links between topics are described o Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches o Good presentation with accurate communication

excellent

Excellent standard: 80+ An outstanding performance, exceptionally able. The relevant information accurately deployed. Excellent grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practice elements. Good integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives. Strong evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

Learning outcomes

  1. Comprehend the role of the organisations and systems of corporate governance within ethical and professional practice.

  2. Demonstrate a comprehension of the key processes underlying the regulation of conduct of business within financial services industries.

  3. Consider critically what might form professional decision making.

  4. To develop a critical understanding of ethical concepts and how these apply to professional conduct in the financial services industry.

  5. Understand both how financial services should be provided and when such services are supplied sub-optimally.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
2,000 Word Essay 25.00
Final Examination Mark 75.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study 120
Lecture

Ten three hour lectures, one of which includes a revision session.

 30

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Resources

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: