A vital element of social accounting is that it is quality assured; the audited social accounts should be verified by an external, SAN approved, Social Auditor who will issue a statement. Their work is checked by the Social Audit Network.

There are three ways an individual can become a SAN approved Social Auditor.

1 Complete a training course recognised by SAN (eg the Merseyside OCN course or similar) and chair a social audit panel under the supervision of an approved SAN Social Auditor.

2 If you have significant experience of social accounting and audit and have satisfactorily chaired at least two social audit panels you can apply. SAN may also require you to attend a one day training workshop.

3 If you attend three days of social audit training (recognised by SAN), have served as a Social Audit Panel member chaired by a SAN approved Social Auditor and have satisfactorily chaired a first audit panel under the supervision of a SAN approved Social Auditor you can apply.