Audit & Assurance
Agreed-upon Procedures
Targeted findings on the specific questions that matter. We apply agreed-upon procedures to defined financial areas and report what we find.
Precision Engagements for Specific Purposes
An agreed-upon procedures (AUP) engagement is a highly flexible tool that allows you to define exactly what we test and exactly who receives the results. Unlike a full audit, which requires independence and results in a public opinion, an AUP engagement is scoped by agreement with specified parties — a lender, a buyer, a regulator, or your own management — and produces a report of factual findings rather than an overall opinion on the financial statements.
This makes AUP engagements ideal for situations where a full audit is disproportionate to the question at hand, or where stakeholders need assurance on a specific matter — a particular account balance, a compliance calculation, a contractual representation, or a transaction-specific claim. The scope is narrow. The findings are clear. The report goes only to agreed-upon parties.
C&M LLP designs AUP engagements carefully, working with you and any relevant third parties upfront to establish a procedure set that will produce the answers stakeholders need. We communicate findings accurately and without ambiguity.
What You Receive
Engagement Letter & Scope Agreement
A clear written agreement establishing the specific procedures to be performed, the applicable criteria, the parties who will receive the report, and any limitations on use. All parties agree to the scope before work begins.
Factual Findings Report
A written report presenting the results of each agreed-upon procedure exactly as observed — without expressing any overall opinion or conclusion about the subject matter. The findings speak for themselves.
Supporting Workpapers
Organized documentation of the evidence reviewed, tests performed, and results observed for each procedure, retained per professional standards for your protection and ours.
When Is an AUP Engagement the Right Tool?
AUP engagements are used in a wide variety of situations where parties need assurance on a specific, defined question — not a broad audit. Common use cases include pre-acquisition due diligence on specific accounts, lender requirements for certain financial calculations, royalty audits, compliance calculations under a contract or regulation, and situations where a full audit is not required but independent verification of a specific claim is valuable.
Typical Clients
- Buyers and sellers in M&A transactions
- Lenders requiring specific financial verification
- Companies subject to royalty or licensing agreements
- Regulators and government compliance bodies