Reprimand from Professional Body - employement law - do I have to tell prospective employers?

ssparks2003

Have you thought of asking your professional body what you should be doing? They well tell you how long you need to report the incident

Masomnia

The first step is to check with the professional body what your responsibilities are and how long it will be on your record.

As above you can be dismissed within the first two years of your employment for no reason effectively; so the actual legalities of it don't really come into it.

I wouldn't raise it at an assessment centre, as you may still be up against hundreds of candidates depending on the role and if you are it will be fatal to your application.

If it's still on your record and you get to a final stage one on one interview I would raise it then at the end. Impress them during the interview with all your skills and experience and then at the end when they ask if there is anything you want to ask bring it up; put as positive a spin on it as possible, what you learned, the importance of integrity etc. If you've done well up to that point and they're thinking positively of you then I think you should be ok.

If it has dropped off your record then it's trickier, check with the professional body if you would still need to declare it. If not I think I'd be tempted not to mention it; if it expires then it expires for a reason.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Brynsam

Masomnia wrote: »

I wouldn't raise it at an assessment centre, as you may still be up against hundreds of candidates depending on the role and if you are it will be fatal to your application.

OP has already said they are down to the last 3, so obviously hoping not to face hoards of other applicants at a future assessment!

andygb

Years ago, I worked for a respected chartered accountants in London. I was not fully qualified (AAT level), but my work used to involve small business accounts, VAT and bank reconciliations for larger companies (I am a bit OCD, so was really good at getting difficult accounts to reconcile).
However, it was always a bit competitive, and the senior partners wanted to see the time spent on each client's accounts brought down. They were also cutting back and I was made redundant.
I still saw my mates from the firm and learned that one guy who kept himself to himself had been dismissed for falsifying accounts in order to keep within the time margins - specifically bank reconciliations which I used to do.
I don't know what the OP did, but any hint of dishonesty/malpractice in a financial environment (even if it is not a firm of accountants) is not looked on favourably.

Kynthia

When you have a face to face interview Is when to bring it up. Probably at the end when they ask if you have any questions. It means you can explain what a reprimand means and the context of why you got it, plus they can ask you follow-up questions.

As you know, unless you are asked or your reprimand states you have to disclose it to future employers, you don't legally have to. However having had a bad experience not declaring it previously I can imagine you'd prefer not to worry it could come out in the future. Plus the fact it was some time ago, and the fact you aren't working in practice, should all mean its not viewed too badly.

clo15

andygb wrote: »

I don't know what the OP did, but any hint of dishonesty/malpractice in a financial environment (even if it is not a firm of accountants) is not looked on favourably.

Which is why I received a Reprimand. However, the professional body obviously considered I was still fit to practice and still fit to carry their logo - since the did not retract my license or expel me from membership.
As a few have mentioned on here - I think I'm going to just mention it in the interview and be upfront and honest. The partner I used to work under has told me that he will personally vouch for my otherwise exemplary work ethic and integrity to any prospective employers. While working there I had previously gone to him with concerns over the way files were managed for a lot more minor issues! To this day I do not know what possessed me to follow through with what the senior lead was telling me to do on this occasion - I can only put it down to a momentary lapse in judgement that has taught me a very valuable lesson. ALWAYS stop and think - especially when under pressure!

marlot

All the best for the interview. If you explain things as well in the interview as you have on here, I'd have no problem hiring you.