Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional
(CCEP) Certification Study Resources
Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of training based upon risk assessment
findings?
A.) Reducing the organization's legal exposure
B.) Educating employees on laws and regulations
C.) Educating the board on the compliance program
D.) Reducing the organization's insurance premiums Correct Answer - A. Reducing
the organization's legal exposure
A compliance and ethics professional investigates a report of sexual harassment. The
incident does not constitute sexual harassment, but reveals the employee's
misunderstandings of the harassment policy. Which of the following should be the FIRST
step in a corrective action plan?
A.) Consult outside counsel
B.) Disclose the incident to the EEOC
C.) Provide education and training on the policy
D.) Survey employees' understanding of the policy Correct Answer - C.) Provide
education and training on the policy
Which of the following provides guidance for the development of a compliance program?
A.) Sarbanes-Oxley Act
B.) Federal Sentencing Guidelines
C.) Security and Exchange Commission
D.) Office for Civil Rights Correct Answer - B.) Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Which of the following is the BEST outcome of a compliance and ethics program?
A.) Mitigating risk
B.) Identifying risk
C.) Prioritizing risk
D.) Documenting risk Correct Answer - A.) Mitigating risk
Training on price-fixing is MOST important for which of the following staff?
A.) Management
B.) Sales
C.) Marketing
D.) Accounting Correct Answer - B.) Sales
,A compliance and ethics program should include:
1. An employee benefits handbook
2. Document retention guidelines
3. Policies regarding confidentiality
4. A statement about the organization's culture
A.) 1,2, and 3 only
B.) 1, 2, and 4 only
C.) 1, 3, and 4 only
D.) 2, 3, and 4 only Correct Answer - D.) 2, 3, and 4 only
A US-based retail company has 250 stores in 30 states. Past compliance efforts have
included a silo-based approach with minimal oversight and the CEO acting as the
Compliance and Ethics Officer. One person in each state posted compliance-related
information sent from corporate, but there were no actual educational sessions. Policies
and procedures were developed by corporate and reviewed 5 years ago. The organization
has decided that a more dedicated approach is needed and hires a Compliance and Ethics
Officer. Which of the following actions should the new Compliance and Ethics Officer take
FIRST?
A.) Conduct a compliance and ethics risk assessment
B.) Review organization-wide compliance policies
C.) Perform a statistically valid compliance audit
D.) Distribute a compliance training packet to employees Correct Answer - A.)
Conduct a compliance and ethics risk assessment
An employee discloses to counsel and the compliance and ethics professional that a
supervisor has been verbally abusive. An investigation finds that the same supervisor has
also been sexually harassing several employees in his department. The compliance
program requires that findings of harassment be documented and forwarded by the
compliance and ethics professional to the CEO with a recommendation for appropriate
discipline. Counsel advises that no report be written because of possible litigation. The
compliance and ethics professional's BEST course of action is to:
A.) Follow counsel's advice
B.) Submit a written report
C.) Ask counsel to prepare the written report
D.) Recommend disciplinary action against counsel Correct Answer - C.) Ask
counsel to prepare the written report
Even though counsel advises to not submit a report Compliance can suggest alternatives to
ensure the compliance program is being followed. By asking counsel to prepare the written
report it is then protected by attorney-client privilege and follows the compliance program.
, A compliance and ethics professional is evaluating an organization's employee handbook. A
conflict exists between the Code of Conduct and the employee handbook. HR is responsible
for the employee handbook. The documents have been approved by the board of directors.
Which of the following actions should the compliance and ethics professional take FIRST?
A.) Post revised documents on the organization's website
B.) Schedule a time during the next board meeting to present revised documents
C.) Schedule a meeting with HR, general counsel, and the board to discuss the issue
D.) Contact HR to determine if the inconsistencies between the documents can be resolved
Correct Answer - D.) Contact HR to determine if the inconsistencies between the
documents can be resolved
Escalate to the lowest level when possible
A company's Code of Conduct has not been reviewed for over 2 years. HR recommended
adding content that would double its size. The compliance committee members expressed
concern that adding a significant amount of content could negatively impact its
effectiveness. Which of the following is the compliance and ethics professional's NEXT step
before consolidating revisions?
A.) Request guidance from the board of directors
B.) Contract with a consultant to rewrite the Code of Conduct
C.) Compare the content outline with other organizations
D.) Rewrite the content based on Federal Sentencing Guidelines Correct Answer -
C.) Compare the content outline with other organizations
Benchmarking
Which of the following is the MOST convincing demonstration of the effectiveness of a
company's ethical standards?
A.) Implementation of an anonymous reporting and feedback system
B.) Termination of an executive who embezzled a small amount of money
C.) Suspension of an employee who failed to complete compliance training
D.) Production of the organization's professional printed Code of Conduct Correct
Answer - B.) Termination of an executive who embezzled a small amount of money
A compliance and ethics professional has developed a policy intended to prohibit
employees from paying, offering, or promising to pay officials of other countries for the
purpose of obtaining or maintaining business. This policy will help the organization comply
with the:
A.) Sherman Act
B.) USA Patriot Act
C.) Anti-Money Laundering Act
(CCEP) Certification Study Resources
Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of training based upon risk assessment
findings?
A.) Reducing the organization's legal exposure
B.) Educating employees on laws and regulations
C.) Educating the board on the compliance program
D.) Reducing the organization's insurance premiums Correct Answer - A. Reducing
the organization's legal exposure
A compliance and ethics professional investigates a report of sexual harassment. The
incident does not constitute sexual harassment, but reveals the employee's
misunderstandings of the harassment policy. Which of the following should be the FIRST
step in a corrective action plan?
A.) Consult outside counsel
B.) Disclose the incident to the EEOC
C.) Provide education and training on the policy
D.) Survey employees' understanding of the policy Correct Answer - C.) Provide
education and training on the policy
Which of the following provides guidance for the development of a compliance program?
A.) Sarbanes-Oxley Act
B.) Federal Sentencing Guidelines
C.) Security and Exchange Commission
D.) Office for Civil Rights Correct Answer - B.) Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Which of the following is the BEST outcome of a compliance and ethics program?
A.) Mitigating risk
B.) Identifying risk
C.) Prioritizing risk
D.) Documenting risk Correct Answer - A.) Mitigating risk
Training on price-fixing is MOST important for which of the following staff?
A.) Management
B.) Sales
C.) Marketing
D.) Accounting Correct Answer - B.) Sales
,A compliance and ethics program should include:
1. An employee benefits handbook
2. Document retention guidelines
3. Policies regarding confidentiality
4. A statement about the organization's culture
A.) 1,2, and 3 only
B.) 1, 2, and 4 only
C.) 1, 3, and 4 only
D.) 2, 3, and 4 only Correct Answer - D.) 2, 3, and 4 only
A US-based retail company has 250 stores in 30 states. Past compliance efforts have
included a silo-based approach with minimal oversight and the CEO acting as the
Compliance and Ethics Officer. One person in each state posted compliance-related
information sent from corporate, but there were no actual educational sessions. Policies
and procedures were developed by corporate and reviewed 5 years ago. The organization
has decided that a more dedicated approach is needed and hires a Compliance and Ethics
Officer. Which of the following actions should the new Compliance and Ethics Officer take
FIRST?
A.) Conduct a compliance and ethics risk assessment
B.) Review organization-wide compliance policies
C.) Perform a statistically valid compliance audit
D.) Distribute a compliance training packet to employees Correct Answer - A.)
Conduct a compliance and ethics risk assessment
An employee discloses to counsel and the compliance and ethics professional that a
supervisor has been verbally abusive. An investigation finds that the same supervisor has
also been sexually harassing several employees in his department. The compliance
program requires that findings of harassment be documented and forwarded by the
compliance and ethics professional to the CEO with a recommendation for appropriate
discipline. Counsel advises that no report be written because of possible litigation. The
compliance and ethics professional's BEST course of action is to:
A.) Follow counsel's advice
B.) Submit a written report
C.) Ask counsel to prepare the written report
D.) Recommend disciplinary action against counsel Correct Answer - C.) Ask
counsel to prepare the written report
Even though counsel advises to not submit a report Compliance can suggest alternatives to
ensure the compliance program is being followed. By asking counsel to prepare the written
report it is then protected by attorney-client privilege and follows the compliance program.
, A compliance and ethics professional is evaluating an organization's employee handbook. A
conflict exists between the Code of Conduct and the employee handbook. HR is responsible
for the employee handbook. The documents have been approved by the board of directors.
Which of the following actions should the compliance and ethics professional take FIRST?
A.) Post revised documents on the organization's website
B.) Schedule a time during the next board meeting to present revised documents
C.) Schedule a meeting with HR, general counsel, and the board to discuss the issue
D.) Contact HR to determine if the inconsistencies between the documents can be resolved
Correct Answer - D.) Contact HR to determine if the inconsistencies between the
documents can be resolved
Escalate to the lowest level when possible
A company's Code of Conduct has not been reviewed for over 2 years. HR recommended
adding content that would double its size. The compliance committee members expressed
concern that adding a significant amount of content could negatively impact its
effectiveness. Which of the following is the compliance and ethics professional's NEXT step
before consolidating revisions?
A.) Request guidance from the board of directors
B.) Contract with a consultant to rewrite the Code of Conduct
C.) Compare the content outline with other organizations
D.) Rewrite the content based on Federal Sentencing Guidelines Correct Answer -
C.) Compare the content outline with other organizations
Benchmarking
Which of the following is the MOST convincing demonstration of the effectiveness of a
company's ethical standards?
A.) Implementation of an anonymous reporting and feedback system
B.) Termination of an executive who embezzled a small amount of money
C.) Suspension of an employee who failed to complete compliance training
D.) Production of the organization's professional printed Code of Conduct Correct
Answer - B.) Termination of an executive who embezzled a small amount of money
A compliance and ethics professional has developed a policy intended to prohibit
employees from paying, offering, or promising to pay officials of other countries for the
purpose of obtaining or maintaining business. This policy will help the organization comply
with the:
A.) Sherman Act
B.) USA Patriot Act
C.) Anti-Money Laundering Act
