Accuracy of recording and reporting

Principles

The financial and other records of the Group form the basis of both statutory reporting and also the periodic reports used by managers to understand business activity and plan for the future. Errors in recording transactions, for whatever reason, mean that management decisions can be based on an incorrect view of the situation with potentially serious business consequences. Deliberate falsification, often used to try to conceal a corrupt action, may also be fraudulent in its own right and could lead to civil or criminal liabilities, both for the perpetrator and for Halma itself.

Policy

Halma will comply with all laws, regulations and rules relating to record keeping and reporting that apply in each country where it operates. It has policies, procedures and controls, supported by formal reviews and internal audit, to ensure that compliance is achieved.

Guidance

There is never any justification for mis-recording or mis-reporting. Trying to hide wrong-doing in anything but the very short term is unlikely to be successful and, while the consequences of owning up may be considerable, the consequences arising from disclosure of a cover-up are inevitably far worse.

Halma has in place a wide range of policies, procedures, reporting and control processes aimed at ensuring that recording and reporting is accurate and complete. These run from basic items such as standardised documentation, segregation of duties, authority and approval processes through to periodic financial reviews and Internal Audit.

In addition each MD and FD is required to certify each year that they have maintained proper controls over their businesses.

Key questions

The following are important questions in relation to accurate recording and reporting:

Am I aware of any mis-analysis or mis-recording in my company’s records?
Am I aware of any breakdown in the approval or other control processes?

If the answer to any of these is yes you should discuss the position with your manager, MD, DCE or the Halma Company Secretary.

If you have a concern

Get a better understanding of Group policy by reading the appropriate policy, procedure and explanatory notes (see additional sources of information below).
Raise it with your manager, MD, DCE or the Halma Company Secretary.
If you feel that you cannot talk to them, contact the Expolink Whistleblowing hotline (see Contact details).

Additional sources of information

Various Halma Policy and Procedure notes available to Halma employees on the Halma Intranet (see Supporting information for details of how to access).