An EDGE Auditor has been requested to provide auditing services to a development client.

EDGE Auditors must adhere to strict ethical guidelines to maintain independence and avoid conflicts of interest, particularly regarding payment structures that could influence their impartiality. The EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols address payment terms explicitly: "An EDGE Auditor must confirm a fixed fee for their services that is independent of the final assessment result. Payment structures that tie fees to the success of certification, such as contingent payments, are prohibited to ensure the Auditor’s objectivity and to prevent any perception of bias in the audit process" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 2.3: Conflict of Interest). The client’s offer of 50% payment for assessment and 50% upon successful certification violates this principle, as it makes part of the fee contingent on the outcome. Option A, confirm a fixed fee independent of the final assessment result, aligns with this ethical requirement, ensuring the Auditor’s impartiality. Option B (lodge a complaint with local authorities) is incorrect, as this is an overreaction and outside the Auditor’s role: "Issues related to payment terms should be resolved directly with the Client, not escalated to local authorities, which are unrelated to EDGE certification" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 4.1: Audit Process). Option C (refer the developer to another Auditor) avoids the issue but does not address the ethical concern: "Referring the Client to another Auditor does not resolve the ethical violation of contingent fees, which applies to all Auditors" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 2.3: Conflict of Interest). Option D (accept the terms) is unethical, as it compromises the Auditor’s independence: "Accepting payment terms tied to certification success, even if the project is likely to succeed, violates EDGE protocols and undermines the integrity of the certification process" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.1: Certification Process). The EDGE User Guide further emphasizes: "Auditors must maintain strict independence, ensuring their compensation is not influenced by the certification outcome, to uphold the credibility of EDGE certification" (EDGE User Guide, Section 6.5: Working with EDGE Auditors). Thus, the Auditor should confirm a fixed fee (Option A).