What is the primary focus of an attestation engagement?

An attestation engagement primarily focuses on reviewing and reporting findings based on agreed-upon procedures between parties. This type of engagement allows a practitioner to provide assurance regarding the reliability of information, based on criteria that the parties involved have established. It encompasses various contexts, including financial statements, compliance with regulations, and operational effectiveness.

The uniqueness of attestation engagements lies in their flexibility; they can be designed to meet the specific needs of the users by specifying the procedures to be followed, which may not include a comprehensive audit. This makes the reporting outcome directly relevant to the parties who defined the procedures and relies on the practitioner’s expertise.

In contrast, examining financial records for tax purposes would not typically fall under an attestation engagement, as it is more about compliance and tax preparation rather than providing assurance on a specific set of procedures. Similarly, providing financial advice to government agencies and conducting audits of federal grant applications serve different purposes and objectives than the focused, agreed-upon approach that characterizes attestation engagements. The essence of option B captures the collaborative nature of these engagements, clearly aligning with their primary objective.