Audits of Employee Benefit Plans Conference (E1705350)

Agenda

7:30-7:45am
Registration and Continental Breakfast

7:45-8:00am
Opening Remarks
David R. Dacey, CPA – WithumSmith+Brown PC

8:00-8:50am
Accounting & Auditing Update
Denise Finney, CPA & Robert Reilly, CPA - EisnerAmper LLP
Attendees will obtain an understanding of key accounting and auditing considerations affecting 2016 employee benefit plan audits. This session will include discussions of existing guidance as well as practical insights on implementing new and proposed Accounting Standards for employee benefit plan financial statements.

8:50-10:05am
EBP Legal Update
Melissa B. Kurtzman, J.D., LL.M and Steven J. Friedman, J.D., LL.M. - Littler Mendelson P.C.
Today, with the uncertainty in the new administration and the closing of the IRS determination letter program to ongoing plans, fiduciary governance of and operational compliance of retirement plans has never been more important. Littler will address key issues with governance, including communications and education as well as key points to make certain your client has a qualified retirement plan.

10:05-10:15am
Break

10:15-11:30am
U.S. Department of Labor Update
Michael E. Auerbach, CPA – U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor (the “DOL”) is the principal federal agency responsible for the oversight of employee benefit plan compliance. Hear a first-hand account of compliance issues the DOL is currently facing and the steps they are taking to ensure adequate oversight of employee benefit plans.

11:30am-12:20pm
Current Issues in Employee Benefit Plans
David Ira Waddington, CPA – Friedman LLP
This session will discuss a number of different topics including:

• Party-in-interest prohibited transactions defined
• DOL guidance on Cybersecurity considerations for benefit plans
• Recent change in hardship distributions substantiation requirements
• 403(b) plan documents update
• Reasons for terminating a defined benefit plan

12:20-1:00pm
Lunch

1:00-1:50pm
EBP Audit Practice Resources for Your 2017 Audits and Quality Initiatives
Ian A. MacKay, CPA, CGMA - AICPA
Learn about the latest EBPAQC tool and resources and the latest developments with the profession’s Enhanced Audit Quality Initiative and its effect on EBP audits.

1:50-2:40pm
Let’s Play SOC Jeopardy
Sheri Wronko, CPA and Michael Yarrow, CPA – WithumSmith+Brown PC
What better way to take an in-depth look at audit requirements related to service organization control reports than to play game of Jeopardy. Please join Sheri Wronko and Mike Yarrow as we play America's favorite game geared towards SOC reports.

2:40-3:00pm
Break

3:00-3:50pm
Smart Fiduciaries: Rules of the Role
Kenneth A. Bagner, CPA, MST & Elizabeth B. Harper, CPA – Sobel & Co., LLC.
Examine best practices for strengthening Plan fiduciary responsibilities. Discuss who is considered a Plan fiduciary, what makes someone a fiduciary, the different types of investment and administrative fiduciaries and the roles and responsibilities of a Plan sponsor. Learn strategies to minimize fiduciary risk and prudent practices and policies. Plan fiduciaries will gain value from takeaways that include a list of best practices to implement immediately. Plan auditors will gain a better understanding of the role of a Plan fiduciary and possible recommendations to strengthen the internal controls of a Plan.