At a networking event organised by ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) in Manama, His Excellency Dr Abdul-Hussain Bin Ali Mirza, Minister of State for Electricity and Water Affairs, said that the financial scandals of the past have led to a general loss of trust and confidence in auditors. Finance professionals working in Bahrain and the Middle East have been urged to ensure working to the highest ethical standards in order to avoid such scandals. Ethics and integrity are at the heart of ACCA's Competency Framework. The vast majority of Chief Financial Officers said it was important to have a good understanding of professionalism and ethics besides finance expertise and capabilities.