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Fact-finding,
no full audit needed.

Fact-finding engagements where you need verification but not a full audit. Bespoke scope, fixed fees.

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What AUPs are

An Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) engagement is a tailored fact-finding exercise where we verify specific items — but stop short of giving a full audit opinion. The procedures are agreed between us and the user of the report upfront, and we report factually on what we found.

AUPs are governed by ISRS 4400 and are appropriate when a full audit would be disproportionate but a third party still needs independent verification.

Typical use cases

  • Bank facility compliance — verification of specific loan covenants
  • Royalty or revenue-share calculations — verification of contractual computations
  • Grant claim verification — verification of specific spend against grant conditions
  • Inventory counts — independent observation and reconciliation
  • Cash counts and bank confirmations — at a specific date
  • Partner / shareholder distributions — verification of specific calculations

How it works

We agree the procedures with you and (where relevant) the third party in advance. The scope is documented in an engagement letter that all parties sign. We perform the procedures, document what we found, and issue a factual report — no opinion, no judgement, just the facts.

AUP framework

When you need an AUP
instead of an audit.

An Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) engagement is governed by International Standard on Related Services (ISRS) 4400 (Revised). Unlike an audit (which expresses an opinion) or a review (which provides limited assurance), an AUP delivers factual findings only on specific procedures the user has asked us to perform. No opinion. No assurance. Just facts.

That makes AUPs ideal when a specific user — a bank, regulator, parent company, grant authority or potential acquirer — wants targeted testing over specific financial information without the cost or scope of a full audit.

Common UAE AUP engagements

  • Bank facility AUPs — testing of borrowing base certificates, debt service coverage ratios, covenant compliance reports
  • Grant fund AUPs — testing of grant expenditure against grant terms (EU, UN agencies, government grants)
  • Royalty audits — testing of royalty calculations payable under licensing agreements
  • Closing balance AUPs — testing of closing balance sheet items in a sale-and-purchase agreement
  • Investor reporting AUPs — testing of specific KPIs reported to investors (ARR, gross margin, retention)
Our AUP process

From scope agreement
to report in 2–3 weeks.

Scope agreement

We work with you and the report user (bank, parent, etc.) to agree the specific procedures in writing. This is critical — the AUP report can only address what was agreed up front.

Engagement letter

Engagement letter signed by you and acknowledged by the report user, confirming the procedures and the responsibility allocation.

Procedures execution

We perform the agreed procedures on the agreed information. Findings documented in detail. No interpretation, no conclusion — just facts.

Report issuance

Formal AUP report issued under ISRS 4400, listing each procedure and its factual findings. Report addressed to you and the agreed user only.

FAQ

Frequently asked.

What is the difference between an audit and an AUP?+
An audit expresses an opinion on whether financial statements give a true and fair view. An AUP simply reports factual findings on specific procedures agreed in advance — no opinion, no assurance. AUPs are typically faster, more targeted and lower cost than a full audit.
When would I commission an AUP?+
AUPs are commissioned when a specific user wants testing of specific items without the cost of a full audit. Common scenarios: bank facility compliance, grant fund expenditure, royalty calculations, closing balance sheet testing in M&A, and investor KPI reporting.
Who agrees the AUP procedures?+
The procedures are agreed in writing between you (the engaging party), the auditor, and the user of the report (the bank, regulator, parent company etc.). The auditor cannot vary the procedures once agreed.
Can third parties rely on an AUP report?+
An AUP report is restricted to the parties who agreed the procedures. Other parties using the report do so at their own risk. This is different from a statutory audit report, which is for general public reliance.
How quickly can you complete an AUP?+
Most UAE AUP engagements complete within 2 to 3 weeks of scope agreement, depending on the complexity of the procedures and availability of data.
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