Living Our Values
The Unique Alternative to the Big Four ®
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Inside
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Living Our Values
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A message from Charles M. Allen
The Crowe Horwath LLP core ideology has always guided us
and made us strong. It is a combination of our purpose, Building
®
Value with Values ; our core values, We Care, We Share, We
Invest, We Grow; and our WIN3 philosophy that balances the
needs of the client, the individual and the firm. These tenets
frame our individual and collective code of conduct as members
of this firm.
The Crowe Horwath values code brings together the guiding
principles that each person, regardless of position, is expected
to use in all interactions with colleagues and clients while
conducting firm business. Our core values are at the heart of
this code, and I believe this code provides a solid foundation
for building and maintaining a friendly and respectful work
environment both now and into the firm’s future.
The code contains key information and guidelines regarding the
responsibility we each hold in acting with the utmost of integrity
and professionalism in meeting the firm’s expectations, as well
as understanding how to identify and report potential violations.
As such, a values hotline called Listen Up™ is available as an
additional resource for those instances when an individual
may feel more comfortable bringing an issue of concern to the
attention of an objective third party.
Living our values is key to being a workplace of choice –
a workplace where people are treated respectfully in an
atmosphere of openness and honesty. It is by living our values
that we create an environment we can be proud of and thrive in
as we work together to accomplish the firm’s vision.
Along with other firm leaders, I am committed to strengthening
the culture at Crowe Horwath. It is critical that our environment
remain highly ethical and support people in living the firm’s values
every day, in everything they do, as they serve their families, their
communities, their colleagues and their clients.
Thank you for living the values of Crowe Horwath today and in
the future.
Charles M. Allen
Chief Executive Officer
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The Crowe Horwath values code provides the standards and
expectations of ethical conduct that the firm requires as we
do business, regardless of where that might be. Simply stated,
it’s how we live our values – doing the right things at the right
time for all the right reasons. This code is a living document
and applies to all personnel, regardless of their title or position.
Everyone is responsible for modeling and supporting these
important standards. We believe this code provides a solid
foundation for building and maintaining a friendly and respectful
work environment.
Personnel also should reference InCrowe policies and guidelines,
which support this code, whenever applicable. Specifically, the
InCrowe documentation addresses in more detail the professional
and personal standards that help ensure we are compliant with
applicable laws and internal processes, plus identifies points of
contacts for further assistance or consultation.
Our core ideology
The Crowe Horwath core ideology is a combination of the firm’s
purpose, Building Value with Values; its core values, We Care,
We Share, We Invest, We Grow; and its WIN3 management
philosophy that balances the needs of the client, the individual
and the firm. This core ideology is simple and powerful. It is at the
immutable center of the firm. It defines our values code. In the
broadest context, building is what we do and builders are what
we are. We choose to build significant and lasting value for our
clients and ourselves by applying integrity and demonstrating the
highest levels of professionalism in everything we do. Our results
are defined by and valued for their ethical standards.
Our core purpose
Our purpose is Building Value with Values. We choose to build
as a team, and we have high expectations for the significance,
creative excellence and value of what we build. We build for the
benefit of our end-user clients, our communities, our professions
and ourselves. The act of building, in and of itself, offers each of
us great intrinsic rewards. It also gives us meaning and purpose.
The way we build is with integrity at all levels.
Living Our Values
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Our Core Values
There are four core values
that ground the firm:
We Care,
We Share,
We Invest,
We Grow.
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We Care
■■ We care for one another, our clients, our firm and
our communities.
■■ Trust, integrity and mutual respect characterize
our relationships.
■■ We “do the right thing” and maintain high
ethical standards.
■■ We care deeply about the results of our efforts and we
hold ourselves personally accountable to our clients
and to one another for delivering on our commitments.
■■ We all aspire to make a difference and to create
significant value resulting from our efforts.
Living Our Values
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We Share
■■ We choose to work as a family, sharing responsibilities
and outcomes.
■■ In building lasting relationships with our clients and
among ourselves, we routinely provide opportunities for
others to grow and develop as individuals and teams.
■■ Collaborating, mentoring, teaching, supporting and
coaching define our relationships.
■■ Sharing opportunities and enjoying others’ successes
are important components of how we interact.
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We Invest
■■ Investing in our people and building our resources
to extend the value we bring to our clients
characterizes our culture.
■■ Embracing change and fostering continuous learning
and thought leadership are important ways we invest.
■■ Innovation and diversity increase our capacity for high
quality and excellence.
■■ Our energy, resources and resourcefulness are the
valuable assets we contribute.
■■ Our willingness to take risks and our desire for
self-improvement, personal growth and financial
prosperity underpin our will to maximize client success
and advance the firm.
Living Our Values
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We Grow
■■ Unity of purpose and stewardship is behind the concept
of enriching and holding the firm “in trust” for the legacy
of future generations.
■■ Over time, we seek to sustain continuous growth and
profitability, to attain a higher form in our professions
and to fulfill a greater purpose for our clients and
our communities.
■■ We aim to build a better place for our people and their
families to grow and to balance their life goals and
wealth-accumulation needs.
■■ We desire freedom to self-determine our future and we
seek long-term financial strength and value realization
to maintain our freedom in pursuing our goals.
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Our management philosophy
WIN³ is the philosophy that Crowe Horwath management
has chosen as its guide. This philosophy defines the
manner in which the firm will function on a daily basis.
While there is no universally “right” philosophy, the WIN³
philosophy is seen as the most effective and efficient
means to attain our vision of a firm with strong integrity.
The WIN³ management philosophy defines success as having
a thorough understanding and being responsive to the needs
of the client, the individual and the firm. It submits that the
best management decisions at all levels will be made when the
benefits to all three of these stakeholders are maximized. In the
short term, it is expected that one or more stakeholders’ needs
may take precedence, but over the longer term, success is
defined as exceeding the expectations of all three stakeholders in
satisfying their needs. Neither the client’s, the individual’s nor the
firm’s needs are more important based on their inherent nature.
There is no hierarchy among the needs of these three.
Client
Stakeholder
(Needs)
Co-Creators
of Value
Valued
Relationships
Firm
Individual
Stakeholder
(Needs)
Stakeholder
(Needs)
Mutual
Commitment
Living Our Values
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Crowe Horwath
Standards and Ethics
The continuing success of Crowe Horwath
depends upon the adherence to the high
standards of professional conduct, performance
and service, which are highlighted in the firm’s
goals and discussed in detail on InCrowe. These
standards must be embraced by all members of
the firm as the way we live our values. A primary
responsibility of the firm is to observe the
standards of professional conduct in practice.
The firm places a strong emphasis on personal
integrity and everyone in the firm, regardless of
their title or position, is obligated to uphold the
ideals of professionalism.
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It’s everyone’s responsibility –
know, understand and comply
How do our professional and personal ethics standards play out
in the workplace? Each of us is expected to know, understand
and comply with the firm’s standards. As a member of the firm, it
is important that you demonstrate a commitment to upholding the
responsibilities explicitly detailed or implied in these statements:
■■ Crowe Horwath delivers all professional services in
accordance with firmwide policies and relevant professional
standards.
■■ Any and all firm and client assets are handled in
an appropriate and responsible manner for legal and
authorized purposes only.
■■ We meet or exceed our contractual obligations while charging
fairly and honestly for the value of the services we render.
■■ The firm and its personnel respect the privacy and
confidentiality of all entities and individuals we do business
with – our colleagues, our clients and others we may interact
with in the course of doing business.
■■ Crowe Horwath strives to avoid all potential or real conflicts
of interest. When conflicts do arise, we act appropriately to
be respectful of all parties’ interests and implement actions to
eliminate or avoid continued situations that may be conflicting
in nature.
■■ We are proud of the diversity and inclusiveness of our
workforce and work to continue enhancing and nurturing it.
■■ Crowe Horwath expects and accepts only respectful
treatment of others. The firm absolutely opposes and prohibits
the harassment or discrimination of any individual at any
time in a Crowe Horwath office location or at a client site.
This includes harassment by a member of the firm, a client’s
personnel or a vendor.
■■ Personnel are encouraged to seek work-life balance and the
firm supports several programs to assist them in doing so.
■■ The firm supports and works to ensure a safe working
environment in all its locations.
■■ The firm has an open work environment and personnel
are encouraged to meet with their immediate supervisor,
their operations leader, their managing partner or Human
Resources if there are concerns or if a person is unsure and
needs guidance regarding a specific work situation.
See InCrowe for further policies and practices supporting the
above statements.
Living Our Values
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Leadership responsibilities
How does our values code specifically impact Crowe Horwath
managers and leaders? The firm expects its managers and
leaders to act with the utmost integrity, modeling professional
behavior throughout the firm and business environment at all
times. As a leader at Crowe Horwath, you must:
■■ be consistent, respectful and fair in all your actions;
■■ be supportive of your people by promoting the firm’s
values code at all levels;
■■ encourage people you work with and lead to live the
firm’s values;
■■ ensure people have the knowledge and resources to be
in compliance by making the right choices and acting
with integrity at all times;
■■ address questions or concerns in an appropriate and
timely manner;
■■ be aware of the professional, ethical and legal standards that
apply to your role and the areas you are responsible for, giving
people appropriate guidance and leadership; and
■■ know or learn who to consult with to ensure the best action is
taken if you are unsure in a specific situation.
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Helping us all to do the right thing –
an ethics checklist
When considering any action, it is wise to ask yourself these
questions to help identify situations that may be unethical,
inappropriate or illegal:
■■ Does what I am doing comply with the core ideology
and guiding principles, values code and firm policies?
■■ Have I been asked to misrepresent information or deviate
from normal procedure?
■■ Do I thoroughly understand the professional, ethical and
legal standards that apply to the situation or do I need
more information?
■■ Do I have a personal or financial interest or the potential to
receive gain in a Crowe Horwath transaction?
■■ Would I feel comfortable describing my decision at a firm
meeting or in a public venue?
■■ How would it look if I read about this in the news headlines?
■■ Am I being loyal to my family, my firm and myself?
■■ What would I tell my child or advise a parent to do in
this situation?
■■ Is the action the right thing to do?
Identify and report potential violations
Crowe Horwath requires its personnel to fully comply with
all applicable laws and regulations and to refrain from any
appearance of having engaged in any illegal, dishonest or
unethical conduct in all business contacts and relationships.
If a situation arises in which it is difficult to determine the
proper course of action, or you question the behavior of
another member of the firm or a client action, the matter
should be discussed with a member of firm leadership.
Crowe Horwath personnel are required to report any
violation or suspected violation that has happened, or may
be about to happen, and which is inconsistent with Crowe
Horwath policies, professional standards, or applicable
laws or regulations. A list of firm contacts responsible
for handling these matters is provided on InCrowe.
Crowe Horwath personnel will not be subject to reprisals or
retaliation because, in good faith, they questioned, discussed or
formally reported a compliance or ethics concern.
Living Our Values
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Values Hotline
In addition to reaching out to internal firm
contacts, confidential reporting may be
made through the Crowe Horwath values hotline
hosted by SAI Global. SAI Global is a leader in
ethics and compliance matters and provides a
specialized solution that aids firms such
as ours in maintaining a values-driven
workplace environment.
Crowe Horwath has chosen to work with SAI
Global, the creator of a confidential reporting
system called Listen Up™, because we feel it is
important to offer personnel an additional option
for bringing compliance or ethics concerns
forward. We also understand some people may
be more comfortable calling matters to the
attention of an objective third party.
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When to use the values hotline
Currently, the reporting process at Crowe Horwath involves
personnel contacting a firm leader. We anticipate this avenue of
reporting will continue in most cases. The values hotline is simply
an additional tool. You are welcome to use Listen Up at any time,
but especially if:
■■ you believe an ethics or compliance issue is not being
handled appropriately or resolved through existing channels;
■■ you do not feel comfortable reporting the situation
through the identified firm avenues;
■■ you feel you need confidential assistance or guidance on
whether an issue is a matter of compliance or ethics; or
■■ you want to remain anonymous when filing a report.
Living Our Values
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Types of issues to report*:
■■ Professional standards noncompliance issues
■■ Conflicts of interest
■■ Unlawful discrimination or harassment
■■ Workplace violence
■■ Substance abuse
■■ Inappropriate actions such as gifts,
entertainment or political activities
■■ Insider trading or other securities law violations
■■ Inappropriate reporting of time and expenses
■■ Falsification of documentation
■■ Retaliation
■■ Inappropriate use of firm resources, assets or documents
■■ Breach of firm or client confidentiality
■■ Inappropriate relationship with client or vendor
■■ Other inappropriate actions, activities or
potential violations of firm policies
*This listing is not all inclusive of reportable matters. These are
just some examples of issues that should be reported.
There are three ways to report your concerns or communicate
with a Listen Up listener:
Website**www.listenupreports.com
Telephone1.866.398.0010
Mail
Listen Up/SAI Global
101 Morgan Lane #301
Plainsboro, NJ 08536
** The Listen Up website is hosted on SAI Global’s secure servers
and is not in any way part of the Crowe Horwath website or
intranet. SAI Global’s portal and tool is used by numerous clients
in addition to Crowe Horwath.
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Living Our Values
For all the reasons outlined within our values
code and firm practices and policies, it’s
important that all of us work together, both
as individuals and as colleagues, to ensure
our work environment remains highly ethical.
We all want to be part of a firm that we can
be proud of – where people are living our
values each day, in everything they do, as
they serve their family, their communities,
their colleagues and their clients.
Living Our Values
Listen Up is a trademark of SAI Global in the United States and/or other countries.
Crowe Horwath LLP is an independent member of Crowe Horwath International, a Swiss verein. Each member firm of
Crowe Horwath International is a separate and independent legal entity. Crowe Horwath LLP and its affiliates are not
responsible or liable for any acts or omissions of Crowe Horwath International or any other member of Crowe Horwath
International and specifically disclaim any and all responsibility or liability for acts or omissions of Crowe Horwath
International or any other Crowe Horwath International member. Accountancy services in Kansas and North Carolina are
rendered by Crowe Chizek LLP, which is not a member of Crowe Horwath International. © 2012 Crowe Horwath LLP
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