APPENDIX D

Comparison Between Attestation Engagements and Direct

Engagements
Direct Engagement
To enhance the degree of
confidence of the intended users
about the practitioners
users about the subject matter conclusion
information.
regarding the outcome of the
measurement or evaluation of an
underlying subject matter against
criteria.
Subject matter
Public statement or assertion No public statement or assertion
information
made by the responsible party made by the responsible party.
regarding its measurement or
evaluation of the underlying
subject matter (for example, a
statement regarding the
entitys
compliance with applicable
criteria, and information
related
to such compliance).
Measurer/evaluator
Party other than the
Practitioner.
practitioner.
Party other than the
Applicable criteria
practitioner
Practitioner normally decides on
decides on the applicable
the applicable criteria to be used
criteria to be used in preparing for the engagement and seeks
its subject matter information. agreement from the party
The practitioner determines
responsible for the underlying
subject matter that the criteria
whether the applicable criteria are
are suitable for the
engagement
suitable.
circumstances.
Deviation of the underlying
Non-conformance with Misstatement of the subject
subject
matter from the applicable
criteria
matter information.
criteria.
Objective

Reporting

Attestation Engagement
To enhance the degree of
confidence of the intended

The practitioners report

includes a conclusion
regarding, for example,
whether

The practitioners report includes

a
conclusion regarding whether the

underlying subject matter

conforms, in all material
the subject matter information respects,

is, in all material respects,

properly prepared, based on
the applicable criteria.

Examples of
engagements

with the applicable criteria.

Attestation Engagement
An audit of internal control
over
financial reporting that is
integrated with a financial
statement audit.
An audit or review of an
entitys
greenhouse gas emissions.
An audit of a service
organizations description of
its

Direct Engagement
A value-for-money
(performance)
audit of a public sector entity
when
the entity has made no public
statement or assertion regarding
such performance.
An audit or review of an entitys
compliance with an agreement,
statute or regulation when the
entity has made no statement or

controls and the suitability of

assertion to an external party
design and operating
effectiveness of those
controls.
An audit or review of an
entitys
statement or assertion to an
external party regarding the
entitys compliance with an
agreement, statute or
regulation.

regarding such compliance.

 2014 Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada