Ethics and Financial Services: ATO Graduate Program Analysis Report

This report examines the intersection of ethics and financial services, using the ATO graduate program as a case study. It explores the importance of ethical decision-making and the skills required for success in the field. The report analyzes the ATO's flexible work arrangement program, highlighting its benefits and relevance to the author's career aspirations. It identifies both discipline-specific and transferable skills, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving, computer proficiency, communication, and time management. The author evaluates their strengths and areas for improvement, outlining a 12-month action plan to enhance skills and achieve career goals, including expanding knowledge, updating skills, leveraging strengths, and exercising integrity. The conclusion reinforces the significance of ethics and the program's role in individual development.

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Ethics and Financial Services
By (Name)
Course
Professor
University
Date

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Introduction
This paper aims to explore ethics and the financial services by reviewing the ATO
graduate program since ATO needs graduates to apply for various disciplines. In this case, ethics
will help to make decisions which are based on the commitments and the significant values.
They help to overcome the dilemmas which arise due to various factors (Wheeler and Beatley,
2014 pp.10). There are various qualities that employers are seeking when hiring graduates. For
instance, the traits they look for in a graduate are flexibility, teamwork, adaptability, honesty,
and dependability. Moreover, they look for skills such as the analytical and the problem-solving
as well as proper communication skills such as writing, speaking and listening.
ATO Graduate Program
I am interested with the ATO flexible work arrangement program. In the program ATO
allows the employees to work on a scheduled freedom hence they know how to meet their
requirements (McNiff, 2016 pp.5). For this reason, I will be flexible, and I will hit a balance
between a healthy life and work hence increases the efficiency and the productivity of the
organization. Therefore, I would consider applying for the flexible work arrangement program.
Discipline-specific and the Transferable Skills

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The flexible work program is beneficial to many institutions and the employees as well.
Therefore, there are specific skills and those which can be transferred to the program which I
will need to embrace. To begin with, the discipline-specific skills they refer to the skills which
are not covered in the program. For instance, the graduates within the flexible work arrangement
program embrace the skills on problem-solving. They should have the capability to employ
logics when dealing with various problems. The computer skills are important since they provide
individuals with the opportunity to use different computer packages to analyze and interpret data
(Cottrell, 2015 pp.18). Other graduates may have various discipline-specific skills such as the
field work skills, formulation of problems and the laboratory orientation skills for them to use
different apparatus effectively. In simple words, the graduates will acquire more specific skills
which relate to their study. The transferrable skills which I need for the stream are delegation,
analytics, good time management, motivation, leadership, communication, listening, and
prioritization. The outlined transferable skills will help to develop capabilities which are general,
technical, or role-related within the stream (Chermack, Kelly, Moen and Ammons, 2015 pp.335).
Both the discipline-oriented and the transferable skills are important, and they will assist me to
pursue my interests.
Strengths and Areas of Improvement
About the expectations of the discipline-specific and the transferable skills, my strength
lies with some of the skills. To begin with, I am a problem-solver hence I can employ techniques
and theories from the social systems and processes to solve the issues which apply to human
relations. On the other hand, I am motivated, and I embrace proper communication skills which I
can employ within the stream of work. By evaluating the theory of practice, the discipline-

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specific and the transferable skills helps individuals analyze problems within a decision-making
model. I have various areas of improvement since I am seeking for methods of improving my
performance as a graduate. I am flexible to engage in development and training chances. Every
individual has room for improvement since none is perfect. Also, I will need to catch up with the
computer skills. I wish to associate with leaders who are more effective and also be able to
maintain a balance between life and work life. For that reason, I am learning to be a better person
and be a good example to those who lack motivation. My learning in MAA250 will help me meet
ATO’S expectations since I will be able to manage time effectively. This is because I will be
able to attend the graduate school and also proceed with work life. I will need to set some time in
the schedule to fulfill my duties. On the other hand, the technological skills will improve since I
will need broad knowledge to accommodate the skills within the stream. For instance, using
emails and the internet are basic skills in technology which every individual should adopt
(Carroll and Buchholtz, 2014 pp.28). Finally, the interpersonal skills will broaden as I interact
with various people within the stream. I will participate in major discussions by using various
equipment for communication which are significant elements in the graduate school. Clear
communication skills are amongst ATO’s expectations.
Action Plan
I need various developments to further my strengths and the gaps highlighted by ATO as
outlined in the 12 months action plan created in this paper.
Month Strategic Plan

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First month Expand knowledge and skills. This will
increase my understanding of the working
environment hence I will be more productive
than the current situation.
Second month Keep my skills updated. This step will
help me keep in touch with changing
environment and also facilitative flexibility in
the job to balance work and life.
Third month Arrive at my potential. This step will
help me work harder to improve my current
situation. I will explore all available resources
to be successful.
Fourth month Provide support to my career objectives
and goals (Ferrell and Fraedrich, 2015 pp.12).
This step will help me utilize the available time
to keep up with the pace of work and life.
Fifth month Leverage the strengths. This step
reminds me that I was hired due to my abilities

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and skills hence I have the chance to apply my
strengths in the job.
Sixth month Close the gaps. This step will help in
recognizing the success goals which exist on
the strategic planning for the following month.
Seventh month Grow holistically. I will penetrate well
through the job by obtaining training and self-
learning. At the same time I will recognize my
weaknesses that I will overcome to achieve
success.
Eighth month Enhance the transferable skills. To add
on the professional skills as well as the
technical knowledge
Ninth Month Develop the capability to wear many
hats. It implies that I should be able to do
several jobs and get engaged in other areas.
Tenth month Be attentive to details. Paying attention

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to details makes an individual be unique
(Chun, Shin, Choi and Kim, 2013 pp.860). At
the same time, they develop confidence and
they challenge their colleagues.
Eleventh month Develop tactfulness. Tactfulness will help
me handle the clients. Moreover, it will help in
dealing with various problems which prevail in
the working environment.
Twelfth month Exercise integrity and ethics. Integrity
and ethics will help to observe work values in all
ways. Finally, it ensures that honesty is
employed within the working environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, reviews about the ATO graduate program as well as their graduates’
testimonials to evaluate various issues. For instance, the ATO program is used to explain the
significant attributes the employers look when they are hiring the graduates (Kolb, 2014 pp.10).
The flexible work program offered by ATO has significant interests which attracts me.
Therefore, I would consider enrolling in the flexible work program since it would allow me to

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venture into other businesses. There are various discipline-specific and transferrable skills as
outlined in this paper. Based on MAA250 learning, it would help me meet the ATO expectations
through various ways. Therefore, an action plan is outlined for the next twelve months outlining
my choice of activities that will enhance further development. Therefore, by reviewing ethics
and financial services, there are various theories such as the deontological and the teleological
which contributes to the development of an individual.
Bibliography

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Wheeler, S.M. and Beatley, T. eds., 2014. Sustainable urban development reader. Routledge.
McNiff, J., 2016. You and your action research project. Routledge.
Cottrell, S., 2015. Skills for success: Personal development and employability. Palgrave
Macmillan.
Carroll, A. and Buchholtz, A., 2014. Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder
management. Nelson Education.
Ferrell, O.C. and Fraedrich, J., 2015. Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Nelson
Education.
Chun, J.S., Shin, Y., Choi, J.N. and Kim, M.S., 2013. How does corporate ethics contribute to
firm financial performance? The mediating role of collective organizational commitment and
organizational citizenship behavior. Journal of Management, 39(4), pp.853-877.