Assurance Engagements and Assurance Engagements Other than Audit or Review of Historical Financial Information: Trends of Introduction in Audit Practice and the Development of Standardization Processes

Abstract

The problem of modern audit development is the trend of using classical approaches to the classification of audit in determining the areas of improvement of organizational and methodological foundations of the engagements in which the subject matter are various objects. Determining the key principles of development of the organization and methods of performing audit services requires an in-depth analysis of the historical development of the audit, determining its further development, taking into account historical landmarks. The aim of the study is to systematize current trends in audit development and assurance engagements, to investigate trends in regulation of assurance engagements as a whole and assurance engagements other than audit or review of historical financial information, to justify the development of national practice of standardization of their implementation. Trends in the development of auditing in the historical context are systematized in accordance with the processes of using the term "assurance engagement". The historical stages of introducing the concept of "assurance engagement" into audit practice are revealed. The trends in the formation of assurance engagements other than audit or review of historical financial information, in International Standards of Quality Control, Auditing, Other Assurance, Related Services are specified. A comparative analysis of the structure of the International Conceptual Framework of Assurance Engagements is presented. A comparative description of the content of International Standards of Assurance Engagements regarding the requirements for the organization and methodology of their fulfilling is proposed. The differences in the development of International Standards of Assurance Engagements from the International Standards on Auditing are specified, the directions and targets for the development of the national system of regulation and standardization of assurance engagements other than audit or review of historical financial information are substantiated.