Acting in the public interest – a framework for analysis - ICAEW

We set out a framework for discussion, based around the key questions that need to beaddressed by those advocating or challenging public interest actions. Our considerations donot just focus on the accountancy profession: the framework should be useful for anyone asa tool of challenge and relevant to any of the wide range of actions that purport to be in thepublic interest. It can be used by those proposing an action as being in the public interest, aspart of the decision making process or as a sense check on the outcome of that process.The true measure of whether someone is acting in the public interest lies in the confidenceof the relevant public, not those making the pronouncements. Therefore the need for thepublic interest advocate to consider actual and perceived threats to fitness to decide, and theapplication of relevant safeguards, will apply throughout the process. The way a public interestaction is determined, and seen to be determined, and the public interest appropriateness ofthe solution, will influence the acceptance of the measure. This will in due course affect thereputation of the advocate of the action. This in turn will help with future acceptance andimplementation. Thus, the stages in the framework interact and the whole process is iterative.18Introduction