What is the focus of an attestation engagement?

An attestation engagement centers around the examination of specific subject matters, such as compliance with regulations, controls over financial reporting, or environmental performance, and the reporting of results on those examinations. In this context, the focus is on providing assurance to third parties regarding the reliability of information or performance related to the defined subject matter. The findings of an attestation engagement result in a report that communicates whether the specified criteria have been met, which is valuable for stakeholders who rely on that information for decision-making.

Attestation engagements are not limited to just financial audits, which would typically imply a broader scope of examination rather than focusing on specific subject matters. Evaluating budget allocations involves a different type of analysis that goes beyond the scope of attestation engagements, which specifically target certain assertions. Finally, while assessing overall financial performance may inform broader financial analyses, it does not encapsulate the precise nature of an attestation engagement, which is more targeted and results-focused.