Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Readiness Clinic

About the Course

Preparing a sustainability report and preparing sustainability information for assurance are not the same exercise. Organisations regularly arrive at assurance with reported figures but without the documentation that explains how those figures were calculated, where the evidence came from, which assumptions were used and who reviewed the information. The result is avoidable challenge, additional work and assurance findings.

This practical clinic approaches sustainability reporting through the eyes of an auditor and assurance provider. Participants work through sample sustainability information and confront the questions an assurance provider will ask: Where is the evidence? What is the basis of preparation? Which judgements were made? Who owns the information? What controls operated? Can the reported figure be recreated?

What You Will Learn

Part (a): What Assurance Readiness Means in Practice — 50 minutes

• Moving from reporting to assurance
• Understanding the evidence chain
• Data ownership and accountability
• Basis of preparation
• Policies and methodologies
• Assumptions and judgements
• Common weaknesses identified during assurance

Part (b): Reviewing Sustainability Information Like an Auditor — 50 minutes

• Selecting and tracing reported information
• Reperforming calculations
• Inspecting source evidence
• Challenging assumptions
• Assessing methodology consistency
• Variance analysis
• Reviewing management explanations
• Sample assurance-style review exercise

Part (c): Building an Assurance-Ready Control Environment — 50 minutes

• Process documentation
• Roles, responsibilities and review controls
• Evidence retention and version control
• Management sign-off
• Preparing an assurance evidence pack
• Conducting a pre-assurance readiness review

Closing Discussion and Q&A — 30 minutes

By the End of This Session

Participants will be able to:

• Assess whether sustainability information is ready for assurance
• Identify weaknesses in evidence and documentation
• Develop a robust basis of preparation
• Document assumptions and judgements
• Strengthen ownership and review controls
• Prepare more effectively for assurance-provider scrutiny

Why This Course Helps Your Career

Demand for assurance over sustainability information is increasing. Finance, sustainability, internal audit and reporting professionals who understand what assurance providers require can reduce reporting risk, improve the quality of evidence and make assurance engagements considerably more efficient. This course provides both the preparer's and the assurance professional's perspective.

Further Information

• Delivery Method: Live Online
• Duration: 3 hours
• Certificate: Professional Certification
• Presented by: Jose Hopkins ACA
• Partner: Sustainability by Jose
• Category: Sustainability Services
• Type: Masterclass
• Price: €250 introductory (first cohort) · €361.20 standard value
• Next Class: 5 November 2026
• Keywords: sustainability assurance, audit readiness, controls, evidence, ISSA 5000, sustainability reporting