Engagement Terms — Assurance Bureau

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Data Handling and Retention

Engagement information is handled consistently 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. For further detail on how personal information is handled, refer to our Privacy Policy.

Insurance

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

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.

Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, liability for any engagement is limited to the fees paid for that engagement, excluding liability arising from our own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. Assurance Bureau is not responsible for business decisions, outcomes or actions taken by the client or CB based on audit or consulting work.

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.

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.

Governing Law

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

Last Updated: 7 April 2026