Impartiality statement

Viscount Quality Certifications operates as an independent third-party certification body. Top management has committed to conducting certification activity impartially, to understanding the threats to that impartiality, and to eliminating or minimizing them.

We do not consult on systems we certify

We provide no management system consultancy. We do not write client procedures, conduct client internal audits, or act as a client's management representative. Where a client needs that work, we tell them so and stand aside from it.

Certification decisions are separated from auditing

The person who makes the certification decision is not the person who conducted the audit. An auditor recommends; an independent reviewer decides.

Auditors are rotated

We rotate lead auditors so that nobody audits the same client indefinitely. Familiarity erodes objectivity over successive cycles.

Fees do not depend on the outcome

Our fee is set by audit duration against accreditation criteria before the audit begins, and does not vary according to whether a certificate is issued or a finding is raised.

Conflicts are identified before engagement

Before accepting work we assess the relationships that could threaten impartiality: ownership, personnel, prior consultancy and shared directors. We decline the engagement where we cannot eliminate the threat or reduce it to an acceptable level.

Commercial pressure is not a reason to certify

We issue no certificate that has not been earned, whatever the client is worth to us. Our accreditation depends on that, and so does the value of every certificate we have already issued.