Frequently, a certified public accountant is engaged to issue a report of findings based on specific procedures performed on a specific subject matter of specified elements, accounts, or items of a financial statement as a result of a need or needs of the users of the report. The users of the report and the accountant agree upon the procedures to be performed by the accountant that the users believe are appropriate. Reports on such engagements are generally restricted to the users, due to the users role in agreeing upon the procedures to be performed.

An example of the type of subject matter included in agreed-upon procedures reports is the determination balances of certain general ledger accounts, as of a specified date, such as cash, taxes receivable or payroll deductions payable.