THE Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), the leading body for vocational accountants in the UK, has confirmed that none of its members have been involved in any of the recent high-profile cases of tax avoidance and evasion and has called on the media and politicians not to tar all who work in the accountancy profession with the same brush.

Phil Hall, the AAT’s head of public affairs and public policy, said: “It’s important to clarify that none of the Paradise Papers examples highlighted in the media in recent weeks have involved any of AAT’s 140,000 members – whether a full member, licensed accountant or student. Likewise, none of the Panama Papers leaks from Mossack Fonseca 18 months ago involved a single AAT member.

“That doesn’t mean AAT is complacent but it does serve as a useful example to highlight that some in the media and a number of politicians do us all a disservice when seeking to tar the accountancy profession with the same brush.”

AAT’s Codes of Professional Ethics have been in place for a number of years, were updated this summer and require all members to be straightforward and honest in all professional and business relationships. The AAT code also requires that members be professional, which means compliance with all relevant laws and regulations and avoiding actions that may bring the profession into disrepute.

In addition to its own rigorous code of ethics, AAT signed up to the latest version of Professional Conduct in Relation to Tax (PCRT) earlier this year.

Mr Hall explained: “In the event that one of our members was found to be in breach of our code or of PCRT then AAT’s disciplinary procedures determine the most suitable action to be taken. In the most serious of cases that would likely mean the member would receive a substantial fine and/or lose his or her membership. The message is clear, AAT expects its members to behave professionally and with integrity at all times.”