Reporting a Concern

Does Accenture have a procedure for reporting concerns?

Yes. Accenture operates a transparent, publicly available, and standardized procedure through its Business Ethics Helpline, where you may report your concern via the web or obtain a country-specific phone number to speak to an agent 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In most cases, you may remain anonymous when using the Accenture Business Ethics Helpline; however, in certain countries this may not be the case due to local legal restrictions.

What is the Accenture Business Ethics Helpline?

Our Business Ethics Helpline is a confidential reporting tool managed by NAVEX through which you can raise any good faith concerns relating to disrespectful, inappropriate, fraudulent, unethical or illegal behavior, including concerns about retaliation. Concerns can be reported online through the website or via a country-specific phone number. Please note the Business Ethics Helpline should not be used in place of contacting local authorities for emergency situations.

Who is NAVEX?

NAVEX is a third-party company contracted by Accenture to document concerns about potential workplace misconduct. Communication Specialists are available 24-hours a day, every day, to document your concerns, which will then be sent to Accenture’s Corporate Investigations team for proper handling.

Who can submit a concern?

Anyone. Accenture’s reporting procedure is open to everyone including Accenture employees, contractor, suppliers, and organizations and individuals outside of Accenture.

What options do I have for submitting a concern?

There are many ways to raise a concern, and the most effective way may depend on the nature of the concern.

You may visit the Accenture Business Ethics Helpline, where you may report your concern via the web or obtain a country-specific phone number to speak with an agent 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In most cases, you may remain anonymous when using the Accenture Business Ethics Helpline; however, in certain countries this may not be the case due to local legal restrictions.

In addition, Accenture employees can always raise a concern with your management or other trusted advisors, any Accenture Leader, Human Resources or Legal. You can always escalate your concern without fear of retaliation if you do not receive an acceptable response from your first point of contact.

What type of concerns can I report?

Any good faith concern relating to disrespectful, inappropriate, fraudulent, unethical or illegal behavior, including concerns about retaliation. If you are located in certain countries in Europe, reports may be limited to financial, accounting, auditing, antitrust, anti-corruption, human rights, environmental or other misconduct that significantly impacts Accenture.

Urgent security incidents such as those listed below must be reported immediately to the Accenture Security Operations Center (ASOC) Hotline at +1 202 728 0645 (24-hour service staffed by a security professional; accepts collect calls).

• Threats to the life, health and safety of our people
• Security breaches (including information security)
• Disaster/crisis incidents that could affect the delivery of services to our clients and/our internal operations

For general Human Resources issues that do not involve disrespectful or inappropriate behavior by an Accenture employee or representative, you can submit your request using Accenture’s HR myRequests website. Such inquiries may include, but are not limited to, questions related to Accenture Policy, Performance Achievement, employee referrals, compensation, career development and other topics of a similar nature.

What happens after a concern is reported?

NAVEX will prepare a written report of your concern and send the report to Accenture’s Corporate Investigations team for proper handling. The Corporate Investigations team will identify the appropriate team to review the report and manage the investigation in a professional, methodical, thoughtful and balanced manner.

Accenture investigates 100% of concerns raised and may reach out to you directly or through the Business Ethics Helpline to endeavor to fully understand your concern. The investigations process can involve private conversations with concerned parties, along with Legal and Employee Relations and other parties as needed and may include outside counsel, security or IT.

Our investigators are impartial and independent in determining appropriate outcomes and endeavor that they are applied fairly and consistently on a global basis—regardless of seniority, position or contribution to Accenture. We circle back with all parties to share when the investigation is concluded. The outcomes of the investigation are often confidential but typically result in discipline, counseling or termination.

Will my identity be kept confidential?

Accenture will handle all concerns raised with appropriate confidentiality and with a high degree of sensitivity. All those involved in investigating and/or addressing a concern will respect the need for confidentiality wherever reasonably possible.

Can I report a concern anonymously?

Subject to local law, you do not have to give your name when you make a report in most geographies. Accenture does, however, encourage you to identify yourself when reporting a concern to make the process of investigating and addressing your concern more efficient—as this enables someone to contact you and gather additional information related to the issue that you have raised.

Will I be notified that my concern was received?

Yes. Accenture will confirm receipt of the concern within 5 business days to the reporting person.

Are all concerns processed?

Yes. Accenture takes all reports seriously and investigates 100% of concerns.

What if I remember something important after I make my report? Or what if the company has further questions for me concerning my report?

When you make a report, you will be given a report number and PIN. You will be able to use these details to log into the Business Ethics Helpline to review any messages from the team that has been assigned to review your concern or to provide further information. If you have provided your name, someone will contact you after you have filed your report and you will be able to directly reach out to the team assigned to your report if you have any further information.

How does Accenture protect individuals or groups who raise a concern?

Accenture encourages and empowers its people and third parties to speak up safely and confidently if they experience, see or become aware of any inappropriate behavior, including any form of disrespect, harassment, racism, discrimination or retaliation—or have any concerns about unethical, illegal behavior or breaches of human rights. And we have zero tolerance for retaliation.