Certification as a Sustainability Assurance Practitioner - AccountAbility

Sustainability Assurance Competence Framework
Sustainability Assurance Practitioner grade
Competency area
Certification criteria
Qualification/ training &
experience route
Experience route
Assurance:
Good understanding of the intent and capacity to
apply, embed, assess and assure against principles
and process standards of the AA1000 Assurance
Standard.
Good understanding of the level of assurance required
by the organization and its stakeholders.
Audit procedures and techniques:
Good understanding of and ability 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.
1. Relevant Assurance Training (3 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. At least 1 year relevant experience with regards
to Assurance, which includes the analysis
and/or implementation of audit and accounting
procedures and techniques in assurance.
Evidence: employer’s brief outlining your role and
performance and client’s brief (only external
practitioner) outlining your role and performance.
3. One of:
• A financial accounting qualification awarded
by established institutes such as ACCA or
equivalent
As an alternative to 1, 2 & 3:
At least 3 years relevant experience with
regards to Assurance, which includes the
analysis and/or implementation of audit
and accounting procedures and
techniques in assurance.
Evidence: employer’s brief outlining your role
and performance and client’s brief (only
external practitioner) outlining your role and
performance.
Ability to plan and assess 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.
Or
Evidence: ’Certification’ certificate
• A management systems auditor
qualification, including any grade of IRCA
auditor certification, IEMA auditor certification
or equivalent.
iii Issued November 2004