Free resources
Free AASB S2/ASRS Audit Preparation Checklist
Misha Cajic
April 15, 2025
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5
min read
With mandatory climate disclosures under AASB S2 officially in effect from 2025 and phased assurance requirements just around the corner, sustainability and finance teams across Australia are asking the same thing: Are we actually ready for audit? It’s a fair question — and a complex one, especially for companies reporting under AASB S2 for the first time.
That’s exactly why we built a new resource: the AASB S2/ASRS Audit Preparation Checklist, now available to download for free. This Excel-based tool is designed to bring clarity and structure to your audit preparation process, without overcomplicating things. If you’re unsure what needs to be documented—or just want to make sure nothing slips through the cracks — this checklist is your go-to playbook.
First things first: this tool doesn’t do carbon footprint calculations or spit out emissions figures. It’s not a disclosure generator, and it won’t write your climate report for you. What it does do is help you get your documentation house in order — because when it comes to assurance, evidence is everything.
The checklist is aligned with both AASB S2 and ASIC’s RG 280, and focuses squarely on documentation readiness. It’s been designed specifically for sustainability, finance, and compliance teams juggling new climate reporting obligations alongside business-as-usual workloads. Think of it as your audit prep guide — one that helps you track, assign, and validate every piece of required evidence before the assurance process begins.
This Excel-based checklist covers each of the core disclosure areas under AASB S2. Each line item links a specific requirement back to the practical evidence needed to support it — whether that’s an internal report, board-level minutes, transition planning documents, calculation files, or policy references.
For example, under the governance section, you’ll find checklist items like:
In the emissions section, the checklist prompts you to map disclosures back to the source data files, calculation methodologies, and verification processes for Scope 1, 2, and — if applicable — Scope 3 emissions. It also gives you space to track whether transitional relief measures (like skipping Scope 3 or comparatives for the first year) apply to your entity.
The tool is structured so you can tag each disclosure item as complete, in progress, or not started, and assign responsibility to the appropriate team member. It’s a shared reference point for teams working across sustainability, finance, and compliance functions to stay aligned.
Over the last several months, we’ve spoken with dozens of teams working toward their first AASB S2 disclosures. A recurring theme keeps coming up: “We have the evidence - we’re just not sure where it all is, or if it’s the right kind.”
That’s where audit readiness can get tricky. Third-party assurance requires that you not only disclose your climate-related risks and metrics — you also need to clearly trace them back to reliable, reviewable evidence. Disorganised documentation isn’t just a pain to manage; it can create unnecessary delays, costs, and risks when assurance starts.
The checklist helps address that by making expectations explicit. It shows you what evidence should exist, prompts you to collect and organise it, and flags what still needs attention. It’s also an excellent way to prepare early — even if assurance isn’t mandatory for your organisation yet.
Whether you're just starting your AASB S2 reporting journey or preparing for future assurance requirements, the checklist is designed to meet you where you are. It’s especially useful if:
In all of these scenarios, the goal is the same: build a robust, traceable foundation for your climate-related disclosures, so when assurance comes knocking, you're not scrambling.
The AASB S2/ASRS Audit Preparation Checklist is completely free to download and use. We’ve made it as intuitive and actionable as possible — so you can focus less on deciphering standards and more on making sure your evidence is rock solid.
If you’ve got questions about how to use it, or want to see how Avarni’s platform can help automate some of the emissions tracking and reporting work, reach out to us — we’re here to help.
