Earlier today the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) released updates to two previously published international standard support resources:
- Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) Engagements: A Growth and Value Opportunity (the AUP Publication): Describes AUP engagements, when they are appropriate, and identifies key client benefits. It also covers AUP engagements on financial and non-financial subject matters, provides six short case studies with example procedures that might be applied and two illustration AUP reports from ISRS 4400 (Revised).
- Choosing the Right Service: Comparing Audit, Review, Compilation, and Agreed-Upon Procedures Services (the Brochure): Explains and differentiates the range of audit, review, compilation, and agreed-upon procedures services which practitioners can provide in accordance with relevant international standards. It can help current and prospective clients understand the range of services available, when they are appropriate, as well as their benefits.
Both resources have been updated to reflect International Standard on Related Services 4400 (Revised), Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements, which was approved by the International Auditing and Assurance Board (IAASB) earlier this year and is effective for agreed-upon procedures engagements for which the terms of engagement are agreed on or after January 1, 2022.
The demand for AUP engagements continues to grow as a broad range of stakeholders, such as regulators, funding bodies, and creditors use agreed-upon procedures reports for a variety reasons. Flexibility is a key benefit of AUP engagements, as they can be tailored to different circumstances and focused on individual items of financial or non-financial subject matters.
One of IFAC’s three strategic objectives is contributing to and promoting the development, adoption, and implementation of high-quality international standards. There are numerous additional guidance and support resources available on the dedicated ‘Supporting International Standards’ section of the IFAC Knowledge Gateway.