Certification as a Sustainability Assurance Practitioner - AccountAbility

Sustainability Assurance Competence Framework
Appendix III – Sustainability Assurance Competency Framework
Associate Sustainability Assurance Practitioner grade
Competency Area
Certification Criteria
Qualification/ Training
Assurance:
Basic understanding of the intent and capacity to apply, embed, assess and assure against
principles and process standards of the AA1000 Assurance Standard.
Basic understanding of the level of assurance required by the organization and its
stakeholders.
Audit procedures and techniques:
Basic understanding of the intent and capacity to audit information and information systems
and internal controls, and to apply and embed internal and external audit principles,
procedures and techniques, including a variety of audit methods as appropriate: financial,
ethical or environmental management systems etc., including surveys, expert reviews,
methods of stakeholder engagement, etc.
Ability to support the planning and assessment of an internal audit of an organization’s
relevant processes appropriate to:
The size and complexity of the organization
The scope of the audit
The organization’s activities, impacts and stakeholders.
Ability to report the audit and support the formulation of an appropriate audit report (including
findings, conclusions and recommendations) to the organization’s governing body or
management.
1. Relevant Assurance Training (1 day minimum), covering the
significant elements of sustainability assurance including courses
acknowledged by AccountAbility (see www.accountability.org.uk) or
equivalent.
Evidence: ‘attendance’ certificate, course curriculum (including
master or bachelor classes), and training institution
2. One of:
• A financial accounting qualification awarded by established
institutes such as ACCA or equivalent
Or
Evidence: ’Certification’ certificate
• A management systems auditor qualification, including
any grade of IRCA auditor certification, IEMA auditor
certification or equivalent.
Or
Evidence: ’Certification’ card
• Relevant training focusing both on the auditing and
accounting requirements as referred to within the left column.
Evidence: ‘attendance’ certificate, course curriculum (including
master or bachelor classes), and training institution
i Issued November 2004