certification

Do you have to accept the proposed auditor?  In a word, no.  However it depends on the certification body on whether this is easy or hard.  However, you really should have a valid reason not to accept the proposed auditor or to change the one you have.  Here are just a few; they don't seem to have the industry experience, they don't relate to company personnel very well, their reporting is not to the agreed requirement, contactability, lack of service focus, lack of customer service, their interpretation of the standard or certification process, etc, etc.  If the reason is a non technical issue, lack of service focus, don't wait for the next audit before you bring your concerns to the certification provider.  Do it as soon as you receive your report (and or certificate).  Ensure you confirm the conversation via email or letter but ensure there is written communication explaining the situation.  As part of this exercise, then ask for a different auditor.  Should they 'forget' and put the same person forward again, remind them of the communications.  If the certification body proposes a new / different auditor you are allowed to ask for their resume, their industry codes, even a referee or two from other clients.  If refused, time to reconsider your certification body or to escalate the request to the certification body back office or management.  When subjecting yourself to a third party audit for certification, this is a very intimate  business situation so make sure you are comfortable with who you are going to work with.  Do not accept sub standard and escalate as needed.  Most certification bodies use subcontractors as their auditors.  These people usually have better customer focus (but not always) with the downside being they are difficult to replace, especially if they are your sole contact point with that certification body.  Others have employees (and normally very overworked, no tongue in cheek here, they are) but they really aren't bothered to negotiate or take an alternate view to a situation because they know they will still be 'hard' at work tomorrow, no matter what the feedback from today is.  So be careful.  Be choosy and get the best you deserve.