What is AICPA peer review and does my auditor need it?
AICPA peer review is an independent quality check of a CPA firm's audit and attestation work, done roughly every three years. Firms issuing SOC 2 attestations under SSAE No. 18 are subject to it, so yes, your auditor needs it.
The full answer
AICPA peer review is a mandatory, independent evaluation of a CPA firm's accounting, auditing, and attestation engagements. Another qualified reviewer examines a sample of the firm's work and its quality-control system, then issues a rating. Firms that perform SOC 2 attestations under SSAE No. 18 go through this review roughly every three years.
The point is quality assurance. Peer review checks whether a firm actually follows professional standards on real engagements, not just on paper. A pass result signals that an outside expert has vetted the firm's methodology, documentation, and independence practices, a useful proxy for reliability when you cannot see inside a competitor's audit files.
For you as a buyer, peer review matters because a SOC 2 report is only as credible as the firm behind it. Enterprise customers and their vendor-risk teams expect a properly licensed, peer-reviewed CPA firm. If an auditor cannot produce a current peer review result, treat that as a red flag worth resolving before you sign.
So ask directly. Request the firm's most recent peer review rating and the date, and confirm it holds an active CPA license. Auditors in the AuditNex network are licensed CPA firms; SOC 2 audits booked through the network start at $2,500 and average about $5,000, and you can compare vetted firms before committing.
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Related questions
Are cheap SOC 2 audits legit?
Sometimes. A low price is legitimate only if a licensed CPA firm issues the report under SSAE No. 18. Suspiciously cheap 'audits' that skip fieldwork, use non-CPA reviewers, or auto-generate reports are not real SOC 2 attestations.
Can my SOC 2 auditor also do my penetration test?
Usually no. Under AICPA independence rules, the CPA firm that audits your controls cannot design or operate them, and a penetration test it then relies on can compromise that independence. Use a separate provider for the pentest.
Can my SOC 2 auditor help me remediate issues they find?
Not directly. Under AICPA independence rules your attestation firm cannot design or operate the controls it audits, so it cannot fix your gaps. It can flag deficiencies, but remediation must come from you or a separate advisor.
Do I need a local SOC 2 auditor?
No. SOC 2 audits run remotely, so your auditor's location rarely matters. What matters is that a licensed CPA firm signs the report under SSAE No. 18. Time-zone overlap and industry experience help more than being in your city.
Does my SOC 2 auditor need to be a CPA firm?
Yes. A SOC 2 report is an AICPA attestation issued under SSAE No. 18, so it must be signed by a licensed CPA firm. Readiness prep can come from anyone, but only a CPA firm can issue the report.
Does the auditor's brand name matter to enterprise buyers?
Less than founders expect. Most enterprise buyers accept any SOC 2 report signed by a licensed CPA firm; they check the scope, opinion, and exceptions, not the auditor's logo. A recognizable name can smooth procurement but seldom decides it.
Sources: AICPA peer review program; AICPA SSAE No. 18 attestation standards. Answer written and maintained by the AuditNex research team; last reviewed July 26, 2026. AuditNex is a marketplace — accredited firms price and scope engagements independently.