Engagement Terms

These Engagement Terms apply to all audit and consulting services provided by Assurance Bureau. By confirming an engagement in writing (including email confirmation, purchase order, or acceptance of dates), the client or certification body accepts these terms.

1. Scope of Services
Assurance Bureau provides audit, assurance, advisory and consulting services. The specific nature, duration and deliverables of each engagement will be confirmed in writing prior to commencement.

2. Confirmation of Engagement
An engagement is confirmed only when dates, scope and key details have been provided in writing and accepted. Verbal discussions or provisional holds do not constitute a confirmed booking.

For audits, the following must be provided: client name, audit date(s), audit type, scope, applicable standard(s), and draft or approved audit plan.
For consulting, the following must be provided: scope or deliverables, date(s), duration, and agreed fee basis.

3. Notice Periods
Audits: Stage 1 – 10 business days; Stage 2 – 10 business days; Surveillance – 5 business days; Reassessment – 10 business days.
Consulting: 1–4 hours – 3 business days; Half/full day – 5 business days; Multi-day projects – 10 business days.

4. Documentation Requirements
Required documentation must be supplied within applicable notice periods. Missing or late documentation may result in rescheduling or cancellation fees.

5. Cancellations and Rescheduling
Audits:
0–5 business days before the engagement – 100% fee.
6–10 business days – 50% fee.
More than 10 business days – no fee.

Consulting:
0–2 business days – 100% fee.
3–5 business days – 50% fee.
More than 5 business days – no fee.

Rescheduling within these windows may be treated as cancellation unless agreed otherwise.

6. Changes to Scope, Duration or Mode
Changes within 10 business days (including scope, audit type, standards or remote/onsite arrangements) may incur additional fees or be treated as cancellation.

7. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, intellectual property in templates, methodologies, tools or proprietary materials remains the property of Assurance Bureau. Clients are granted a non-exclusive licence to use engagement deliverables internally for purposes related to the engagement.

8. Confidentiality
All engagement information is treated as confidential and is only disclosed where required to deliver services, meet legal obligations or comply with audit-scheme requirements. Confidential information will not be shared with third parties without consent unless required by law or scheme rules.

9. Data Handling and Retention
Engagement information is handled in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles. Data is retained only as necessary to fulfil the engagement, meet legal, regulatory or audit-scheme obligations, or support legitimate business needs. After this, information is securely destroyed or de-identified unless otherwise required.

10. Insurance
Assurance Bureau maintains professional indemnity and public liability insurance appropriate for the services provided.

11. Client and Certification Body Responsibilities
Clients and CBs must ensure timely access to information, personnel and documentation, and cooperate in good faith to support completion of the engagement. Delays may shift timelines or incur fees.

12. Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, liability for any engagement is limited to the fees paid for that engagement. Assurance Bureau is not responsible for business decisions, outcomes or actions taken by the client or CB based on audit or consulting work.

13. Complaints and Disputes
Concerns or complaints may be submitted via email and will be reviewed promptly and addressed in good faith. If the engagement was performed on behalf of a certification body, the matter may be escalated to that body’s complaint process.

14. Relationship with Website Terms
Use of the Assurance Bureau website does not create a professional engagement. These Engagement Terms apply only once a service is confirmed in writing.

15. Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia.

Last Updated: 1 December 2025