1. The Current State and Future Direction of Employee Benefit Plan Audits
Marcus Aron, Senior Auditor, Office of the Chief Accountant, U.S. Department of Labor - LinkedIn - Get an update on the key regulatory changes impacting employee benefit plan audits
- Analyze current challenges in employee benefit plan audits, identify potential risk areas, and develop strategies to enhance audit quality and compliance
- Gain insights into emerging trends and technologies in the field of employee benefit plan audits, enabling them to anticipate and adapt to future audit requirements
2. Accounting & Auditing Update
Michelle Buckley, CPA, AIFA, Vice President, Practice Leader, Meaden and Moore - LinkedIn - Update on accounting and auditing issues
- Discuss SAS 145 year 2
- Explore updates on Secure Act 2.0 and potential audit considerations
3. Retirement & Legislative Update
Aaron Lane, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones - LinkedIn - Gain insight into recent legislative changes impacting retirement plans, including tax reforms, contribution limits, and compliance requirements.
- Understand how upcoming regulatory changes affect retirement plan administration and employer obligations.
- Learn strategies for maintaining compliance and efficiency in retirement plans amidst evolving legal requirements.
4. Initial Plan AuditsDana Howell, CPA, Director, Sikich - LinkedIn - Identify the essential regulatory requirements and documentation needed for an initial employee benefit plan audit.
- Recognize common risks and compliance challenges in first-time audits to improve audit quality.
- Learn best practices for planning and executing an effective and efficient initial plan audit.
5. Understanding Fiduciary Responsibilities, ERISA Compliance & Best Practices
Ed Redder, J.D. - Thompson Hine - LinkedIn - Explain fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA and their impact on employee benefit plan audits.
- Identify key ERISA compliance requirements to ensure proper plan management and oversight.
- Apply best practices to strengthen fiduciary governance and minimize compliance risks.
6. EBP Audit Bootcamp
- Develop a strong foundation in employee benefit plan audit fundamentals, including key regulations and standards.
- Identify common audit deficiencies and strategies to enhance audit quality and compliance.
- Apply practical techniques to improve efficiency and accuracy in employee benefit plan audits.
7. Peer Review Update: Hear from the Audit Quality Experts
Peter Zender, CPA, A&A and Technology Trainer, Galasso Learning Solutions - LinkedIn - Understand recent peer review findings and their impact on employee benefit plan audits.
- Identify common audit quality issues and strategies for improvement.
- Learn best practices from audit quality experts to enhance compliance and performance
8. What you Need to Know: Form 5500
Krystal Mitchell, CPA, Manager, Assurance and Advisory, SEK, CPAs & Advisors - LinkedIn - The form 5500 session will provide an overall review of the Form 5500 and related schedules.
- From the audit perspective we will cover best practices for reviewing and reconciling the Form 5500 and related schedules to the Financial Statements.
- We will also briefly discuss instances where you might expect Form 5500 reporting to differ from Financial Statement reporting.
9. Emerging Technology for an Efficient Audit
Kim Conaway, CPA - Director of Product Management Audit, Wolters Kluwer - LinkedIn - Explore emerging technologies that enhance efficiency and accuracy in employee benefit plan audits.
- Understand how data analytics and automation can improve audit quality and compliance.
- Learn best practices for integrating technology into the audit process to streamline workflows.
10. Risk Management
Duncan Will, CPA/ABV/CFF, CFE, Loss Prevention Director & A&A Specialist, CAMICO - LinkedIn - Identify key risk factors in employee benefit plan audits and their potential impact.
- Develop strategies to mitigate risks and enhance audit effectiveness.
- Learn best practices for implementing a risk-based approach to auditing.