NOTE FOR PEER REVIEWERS: You must attend both sessions if you wish to satisfy your annual EBP must-select training requirement.

This session will address new and recent changes to guidance related to peer reviews of employee benefit plan (EBP) audit engagements. For peer reviewers, attendance of both parts I and II will satisfy the annual peer review must-select training requirement to review EBP engagements. This session is designed to include discussion of performing peer reviews, using the Peer Review Employee Benefit Plan Audit Engagement Checklist (EBP checklist), and real-life EBP audit findings. This presentation is primarily for peer reviewers; however, these sessions include discussion of topics that will help subject matter experts gain insight to the peer review process and benefits of serving as a team member in peer reviews.

Presenters will provide:

* Updates on recent or upcoming changes to professional standards applicable to peer reviews and EBP audit engagements

* Insights regarding regulatory changes that affect EBP audits

* An overview of recent and planned changes to the Peer Review EBP checklist, including guidance for peer reviewers when using bolded questions to evaluate whether an engagement was performed and reported on in conformity with applicable professional standards in all material respects

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze auditing and reporting requirements for audits of employee benefit plans and issues encountered by auditors in the year following implementation
• Identify recent changes to the peer review checklist for employee benefit plan audit engagements
• Use bolded questions in the EBP checklist to conclude whether an engagement is nonconforming

NOTE FOR PEER REVIEWERS: You must attend both sessions if you wish to satisfy your annual EBP must-select training requirement.

This session will address new and recent changes to guidance related to peer reviews of employee benefit plan (EBP) audit engagements. For peer reviewers, attendance of both parts I and II will satisfy the annual peer review must-select training requirement to review EBP engagements. This session is designed to include discussion of performing peer reviews, using the Peer Review Employee Benefit Plan Audit Engagement Checklist (EBP checklist), and real-life EBP audit findings. This presentation is primarily for peer reviewers; however, these sessions include discussion of topics that will help subject matter experts gain insight to the peer review process and benefits of serving as a team member in peer reviews.

Presenters will provide:

* Updates on recent or upcoming changes to professional standards applicable to peer reviews and EBP audit engagements

* Insights regarding regulatory changes that affect EBP audits

* An overview of recent and planned changes to the Peer Review EBP checklist, including guidance for peer reviewers when using bolded questions to evaluate whether an engagement was performed and reported on in conformity with applicable professional standards in all material respects

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze auditing and reporting requirements for audits of employee benefit plans and issues encountered by auditors in the year following implementation
• Identify recent changes to the peer review checklist for employee benefit plan audit engagements
• Use bolded questions in the EBP checklist to conclude whether an engagement is nonconforming

The Form 5500 workshop will provide a practical review of the Form 5500 and related schedules. We will explore common practitioner questions and Form 5500 and related schedules' pitfalls. The session is designed for plan administrators, auditors, tax professionals, and preparers who want to learn about Form 5500 as well as expand their knowledge of Form 5500 filings.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify Form 5500/5500-SF specifics
• Indicate changes to the 2021 Form 5500
• Select Form 5500 related schedules and Form 8955-SSA
• Recognize common challenges and how to address them

Hear an update from the DOL and IRS onsite in Aurora, CO, and live online!

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the latest initiatives and priorities within the DOL and IRS
• Apply the latest regulatory and enforcement developments in planning the EBP engagement and discussing potential issues with plan sponsors

The business environment is complex and evolving more rapidly than ever. With changing demographics, revised client and talent expectations, and new technologies, we have to work differently, accelerate our adoption of technology by years and address the new risks presented. In order to position ourselves for success, we must understand prevailing environmental trends, how they impact what we do as assurance providers and advisors, and the opportunities they present.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess the trends in the environment that are impacting practice.
• Identify impact on quality.
• Analyze insights into developments that will affect practice in the near future.
• Indicate new assurance opportunities.

The current environment is ripe with economic uncertainty. From mass layoffs and bank failures to rapid fluctuations in investment valuations to inflation at levels not seen in decades, plan sponsors have a lot to navigate. Join Bertha Minnihan, Partner at Moss Adams, and Carl Mayes, Senior Director at the AICPA, for a discussion of what this means for your upcoming EBP audits.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify trends in the environment that could impact your upcoming audits.
• Recognize the areas of the audit most likely to be impacted.
• Determine how your audit approach may change based on environmental trends.

A 403(b) Plan is a tax-advantaged retirement plan designed for non-profit organizations and certain government entities. The 403(b) Plan is similar to a 401(k) Plan, although it offers several enhanced benefits, such as catch-up contributions for tenured employees. This session will discuss the basics of 403(b) Plans, their benefits and the differences between 403(b) and 401(k) plans. It will also discuss prototype documents. Describe the differences between ERISA and non-ERISA 403(b).

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the types of organizations that can have a 403(b).
• Distinguish the requirements for 403(b) and the difference between 401(k)
• Distinguish prototype documents

Cycle Three for DC plans has finished but required amendments are still abundant for DC, DB and 403(b) plans. This session will help understand what to look for in necessary qualifying language for each of these plan types.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify what is a late interim amendment or late adoption of required plan amendments and how to correct.
• Assess whether a plan has adopted all required interims for recent legislation.

This session will provide a basic overview of ERISA rules and regulations, highlighting certain key elements for plan auditors, as well as an overview from the DOL. This session is the first session of the fundamentals case study

Learning Objectives:

• Recall the various types of plan document designs and common plan amendments and from the DOL on the auditor's role and the importance of the audits of plans.
• Identify ERISA from an auditor's perspective (plan types, roles of providers, vesting rules, nondiscrimination testing)

This session will discuss opportunities to leverage data, technology, and external vendors to perform high quality and efficient audits of employee benefit plans both today and in the future.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize technology trends impacting the auditing profession
• Analyze how firms are leveraging technology to perform high quality audits of employee benefit plans efficiently

This session includes a panel of plan sponsors who will discuss best practices of working with service providers, best features these plan sponsors utilize to help their plan meet participant needs and key/relevant internal controls and challenges. Plan sponsors will provide their biggest challenges and opportunities in operating their plan and maintaining compliance. This session will help plan sponsors and auditors gain insight into how plan sponsors operate. This session will give auditors insight to better serve and provide value to their own audit clients.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and implement best practices when preparing for a financial statement audit
• Understand key internal controls and best practices in oversight and administering a plan
• Analyze service providers to ensure high quality and compliance with 408(b)(2)

Overview of the various aggregation rules and what they impact.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the basic rules that aggregate entitities, including attribution rules.
• Analyze whether entities will be aggregated in particular fact patterns.
• Recognize differences between the section 52 aggregation rules and the section 414 aggregation rules.

Join EBPAQC Executive Committee Chair Debbie Smith and AICPA Senior Director Carl Mayes for a discussion of SAS 145 and its impacts on your upcoming EBP audits.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key provisions of SAS 145
• Distinguish the new risk assessment standards from the existing standards
• Apply the new standards to audits of employee benefit plans

This session is part of the fundamentals track case study. This session will dive into understanding the plan documents, including identifying relevant plan provisions of the defined contribution case study, which is utilized for all of the fundamental track sessions.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the different types of plan document designs and common plan amendments
• Recognize relevant plan provisions of the case study to consider risk assessment and develop audit procedures and Identify a practical example of the AICPA EBPAQC's Plan Document Tool to summarize the relevant plan provisions

This session will address some of the unique accounting and auditing issues related to multiemployer plans, including payroll audits and other considerations.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize audit and accounting issues impacting multiemployer plans
• Identify the challenges of payroll audits of contributing employers

This session will be an overview of the peer review process and cover common peer review findings, including those related to AU-C 703 deficiencies

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze and gain a better understanding of the peer review process
• Apply best practices to avoid findings

Come learn the new techniques IRS is using to identify plans to examine and how this process is data driven and fast paced. Using resources now available to them, IRS is data mining and using letters and specific questions for selected plans to use for a full examination.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate an examination letter compared to a letter of inquiry.
• Apply tools to understand how IRS looks for compliance areas to focus their resources.
• Identify options available for plans under examination to correct failures and how to report them.

This session will describe common derivative investments held by employee benefits plans (including forwards, futures, options and swaps) including how they are valued and on what exchanges they trade, if applicable. Reporting and disclosure requirements for derivative investments held by a benefit plan will be discussed. We will also cover the common additional information requests needed from the custodian or investment manager.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify derivatives that might be held as investments with employee benefit plans
• Determine the basis of derivatives
• Analyze the disclosure and accounting requirements (specific to employee benefit plans)

This session is Part I of II, in which we will work through the planning and risk assessment process for the fundamental track case study of an ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audit. In summary, we will review the conceptual framework for audit planning, identify the circumstances for an ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audit and understand the appropriate evaluation of a SOC 1 report and how it impacts your audit procedures. In addition, we will review the documentation of risk assessment in an EBP audit and identify the linkage of risk assessment to audit procedures.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize necessary procedures to properly plan an employee benefit plan, through utilization of an example
• Identify risk assessment and the design of and linkage to planned procedures based on risk evaluation by audit area at the assertion level
• Distinguish when ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audits are appropriate
• Recall SOC 1 report and its impact on planned procedures and risk assessment

This advanced tax session will cover a variety of hot topics in the compensation & benefits area. Experienced professionals will explain what they are hearing and what companies are concerned about or need to be aware of.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize recent compensation & benefits trends
• Identify tax consequences of compensation & benefits trends

Recent auditing and accounting standards have updated both management and auditor responsibilities for considering internal controls. This session will address key internal controls that you should consider at the plan sponsor and with service providers and when to seek reliance on SOC 1 reports.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the risks associated with key internal controls related to key audit cycles and link those risks to audit procedures
• Differentiate between effectively perform Walkthroughs with good documentation and NOT.
• Analyze how to perform effective inquiries with non-accounting persons and documentation.

Hear from the cyber experts behind one of the top recordkeepers for 401(k) plans and an attorney who helps plan sponsors protect against cybercrime as well as works to ensure compliance with reporting requirements. This session will give you the latest knowledge about what the protocols are for protecting participants plan accounts. It will include what participants need to do to ensure for best protection. Plan Sponsors will hear about the dangers of ransomware payments from a unique perspective.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess DOL guidance.
• Recognize plan sponsor fiduciary responsibilities.
• Evaluate elements of an incident response plan.

Learn about common operational errors in qualified retirement plans, the proper corrective action of those errors, the impact on plan financial statements, and an overview of the IRS and DOL correction programs from the perspective of an EBP auditor and an ERISA attorney.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common plan operational errors and required corrective actions.
• Analyze the impact operational errors have on plan financial statements and required communications with plan management and those charged with governance.
• Recognize IRS and DOL programs to correct operational errors.

This session is Part II of II, in which we will work through the planning and risk assessment process for the fundamental track case study of an ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audit. In summary, we will review the conceptual framework for audit planning, identify the circumstances for an ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audit and understand the appropriate evaluation of a SOC 1 report and how it impacts your audit procedures. In addition, we will review the documentation of risk assessment in an EBP audit and identify the linkage of risk assessment to audit procedures.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize necessary procedures to properly plan an employee benefit plan, through utilization of an example
• Identify risk assessment and the design of and linkage to planned procedures based on risk evaluation by audit area at the assertion level
• Distinguish when ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audits are appropriate
• Recall SOC 1 report and its impact on planned procedures and risk assessment

This course will provide an overview of the new retirement legislation.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the components included in the legislation pertaining to qualified retirement plans
• Indicate changes from current rules
• Identify effective dates of new provisions

With the number of accounting graduates declining every year and more and more CPAs leaving the profession, it does not look like the CPA talent shortage will get better any time soon. That’s why the Big 4 are increasingly relying on international talent solutions and small and medium firms need to start following suit. Join us for a presentation with Jim Brady, former CEO of alliantTalent and former CEO for Deloitte’s India Talent Center on how you can start to fill vacancies today.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the major reasons for the shortage of available talent in the CPA profession.
• Identify strategies to adapt to droughts in the accounting workforce over the next few years so your firm can continue to grow.

For many years now, EBP audits have suffered from higher than normal levels of deficiencies as flagged by the Employee Benefits Security Administration. In this session we will discuss several factors that are impacting the quality of EBP audits and what can be done to correct this industry-wide. Here is what you can expect to take away from this session:

1. Why are firms having trouble with the quality of their EBP audits?

2. Where does EBP audit fit in the priority of work for firms?

3. When working through EBP audits, what is working and what should you try?

Learning Objectives:

• Identify root causes for major deficiencies in the EBP audit industry
• Determine steps you can take to increase the quality of your EBP audits

This session will discuss recent audit and accounting standards which impact employee benefit plan audits. Also, there will be discussion about relevant tools and resources which can be used to assist in identifying and applying recent guidance.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify applicable auditing standards for 2022 audits
• Indicate the impact of not yet effective standards on future audits
• Identify recent accounting guidance which could impact financial statement reporting
• Recognize tips on where to find relevant tools and resources

This session will provide an overview of typical health and welfare plan arrangements. We will discuss the roles and responsibilities of the employer, employees, and different service providers such as the insurer, third party administrator, trustee. In addition we will provide an overview of plan accounting and unique terminology and common funding arrangements.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze typical health and welfare plan offerings
• Compare audit testing for different plan features and types

The tax landscape is changing as employers revamp fringe benefits packages to accommodate remote workers and other changing workforce dynamics. This course will cover tax consequences pertaining to these benefit trends, such as student loan payments, travel expenses, etc.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify changing workforce dynamics impacting benefit offerings
• Recognize tax consequences of trending benefit issues

Come hear how a plan auditor who is part of his Retirement Committee completed an RFP for an investment advisor and recordkeeping platform while another former plan auditor part of his plan’s Retirement Committee went through a full plan benchmarking study. Lots of learned skills to share and discuss.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify what is needed for a successful RFP process and due diligence in hiring an investment advisor.
• Differentiate a process that is rife with potential conflicts of interest or other characteristics where the fiduciary needs to bring an understanding of how prices and determined.

This session will serve as a refresher of the professional standards related to auditor independence. It will examine some of the differences between AICPA, SEC and DOL guidance. We will also discuss the DOL Interpretive Bulletin that was released in September 2022, as well as other independence considerations when performing audits of ERISA plans.

NOTE: Individuals are encouraged to consult their state board of accountancy ethics requirements guidelines to determine if the session meets their state(s) ethics CPE requirements.

Learning Objectives:

• Recall the Code of Professional Conduct guidance for independence
• Distinguish the independence guidance between AICPA, SEC and DOL regulations
• Identify challenges to independence guidance posed by various documents that clients or other organizations ask CPAs to sign.

This session is part 1 of 2 that focuses on the testing of eligibility, participant data and contributions for the fundamentals track case study, including discussion of common errors found in these areas.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the various contribution types that are typical in a defined contribution plan, review the annual limits, and understand the participant and employer contributions based on the fundamental track case study's plan provisions, considering eligibility and eligible compensation for each type of contribution
• Recall the risk assessment of relevant assertions and the planned audit procedures of the case study
• Indicate sampling and testing procedures utilizing examples from the case study for payroll, definition of compensation, participant eligibility, participant data, contributions, and the timely remittance of contributions
• Recognize common errors found in testing of contributions, eligibility and participant data

This session will address unique issues encountered in auditing defined benefit plans. We will cover how those audits differ from audits of defined contribution plans, including testing of benefit payments and census data, documenting the use of a specialist, considerations of cash balance provisions, auditing plan terminations and de-risking.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize key differences between a defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Analyze census data
• Identify types of benefit payments, including cash balance considerations

Investments have a cost. How do the different share classes tell a story? How do recordkeeping fees and costs tell their story? What services do investment advisors provide and how do you value them? What story does your plan tell? The process is critical but in too many cases where fees hide is a secret, known only by insiders who know how to peel the onion, layer by layer.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze a typical retirement plan investment lineup to better understand the various revenue sharing arrangements that may exist within (to help uncover the revenue found in cash alternatives, target date funds, asset allocation funds, and managed portfolios)
• Identify methodology for determining how an investment advisor might price their services
• Select techniques to balance the reasonableness of investment advisory fees with the level and quality of services provided

This session will provide an overview of the audit requirements related to a first year audit, a plan which has been audited by another auditor and a new plan. We will review the applicable audit guidance and 5500 requirements.

Learning Objectives:

• Use auditing procedures to address the specific risks of a first year audit engagement.
• Apply audit guidance related to initial benefit plan audits.
• Identify the unique characteristics of defined contribution and defined benefit plans as they relate to initial plan audits.
• Determine and apply best practices to efficiently and effectively perform procedures related to initial plan audits

This course will assume a general understanding of different types of equity and cover more advanced technical aspects such as common errors, deposit and reporting rules for equity compensation, the netting rule implications for the new stock buyback excise tax, and redeferral arrangements.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common errors in equity compensation applications
• Determine deposit and reporting rules for equity compensation
• Analyze implications of redeferrals of equity compensation
• Evaluate the netting rule implications for the new stock buyback excise tax

In this session, you will learn best practices for your benefit plan audits, including ways to address common Peer Review and Department of Labor findings; challenges expected from adopting AU-C 703 and ways to more efficiently document your benefit plan audits.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common deficiencies found by Peer Review and the Department of Labor
• Analyze changes in documentation required by AU-C 703
• Determine best practices which can help practitioners more effectively and efficiently document their audits.

This session is part 2 of 2 that focuses on the testing of eligibility, participant data and contributions for the fundamentals track case study, including discussion of common errors found in these areas.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the various contribution types that are typical in a defined contribution plan, review the annual limits, and understand the participant and employer contributions based on the fundamental track case study's plan provisions, considering eligibility and eligible compensation for each type of contribution
• Recall the risk assessment of relevant assertions and the planned audit procedures of the case study
• Indicate sampling and testing procedures utilizing examples from the case study for payroll, definition of compensation, participant eligibility, participant data, contributions, and the timely remittance of contributions
• Recognize common errors found in testing of contributions, eligibility and participant data

This session will walk through both an ASC 960 and 965 actuarial report, reviewing some of the key assumptions and census data elements used by actuaries and how those assumptions and census data elements impact the actuarial calculations. It will also highlight the differences between the actuarial reports prepared under ASC 715 compared to ASC 960.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the differences between inputs used for ASC 715 and ASC 960/965
• Recognize the data and assumptions used in computing the valuations under ASC 960 and 965

This session is dedicated to discuss ideas and thought content about mentoring others to develop tax skills and grow as a tax and consulting professional in EBP. Leadership is a learned skill rather than a soft skill and audit firms need to engage auditors. Join this session to hear how firms have developed future EBP leaders. Come learn how to shift from audit to tax to better round out your EBP practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify how the profession needs tax code compliance experts as the industry stalwarts turn to shorter hours and consulting.
• Recall the many ways tax code compliance is necessary to auditors who determine there may be a compliance issue.
• Select a plan to shift and identify tax leadership willing to mentor and where to find resources.

As more and more information is provided electronically, auditors need to evaluate the reliability, completeness and accuracy of that information. Evaluating and testing of ITGC is one possibility for doing that. This session will review the concept of ITGC. By understanding how plan sponsors and their 3rd party service providers process information, auditors will have a better understanding where ITGC impacts their audits. From this point, we will discuss some risk factors to consider in testing those ITGC. This session is designed for practitioners that generally don't have access to IT auditors.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify when and why ITGC is relevant for EBP audits
• Analyze common IT risk in EBP audits and the common controls that would mitigate those risks
• Recall the tools and best practices that are relevant for an effective understanding of ITGC and where to start.

Cycle Three for DC plans has finished but required amendments are still abundant for DC, DB and 403(b) plans. This session will help understand what to look for in necessary qualifying language for each of these plan types.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify what is a late interim amendment or late adoption of required plan amendments and how to correct.
• Analyze whether a plan has adopted all required interims for recent legislation.

Multiple employer plans are not new. However, the SECURE Act changed many rules associated with multiple employer plans to facilitate the adoption and use of such plans. SECURE also created a new type of plan, the pooled employer plan, and created a new mechanism for single employers to file their form 5500s on a group basis.

Learning Objectives:

• Interpret the changes made to the multiple employer plan rules, including the repeal of the so-called "one bad apple" rule.
• Assess the new type of plan that can be maintained by more than one employer, the Pooled Employer plan, and the requirements to be a Pooled Plan provider who can sponsor such a plan.
• Evaluate the new Form 5500 group filing procedure.

This session provides an overview of investments commonly held by defined contribution plans and focuses on investment testing and disclosures relevant to the fundamentals track case study.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key characteristics of various investments commonly held in plans, including insurance products, common/collective trust funds, pooled separate accounts, mutual funds, and self-directed brokerage accounts.
• Recall the risk assessment of relevant assertions and the planned audit procedures of the case study
• Indicate sampling and testing procedures utilizing examples from the fundamentals track case study for investments and investment income
• Identify some of the unique financial reporting requirements for investments

This session will build on the prior year discussion of MEPS, PEPS and MEWA. During the session, we will share best practices and also the implementation challenges identfied by engagement teams and PEP providers.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify what makes a PEP different from a MEP and MEWA
• Analyze provider experience during implementation
• Recognize PEP audit challenges and approaches
• Compare and contrast provider experience

The correction program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service allows plans with operational or document errors to maintain compliance. With various tentacles to the program, this session will lay out the correction options available, including nuances with the sister programs IRS hosts for voluntary corrections. Presented by the Internal Revenue Service with practitioner input and enhancements for bringing out the nuances, this session will showcase the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System.

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish areas where plans have the greatest errors and how the IRS works with the plan sponsor to make corrections when the facts or the proposed correction may be outside the examples within the Revenue Procedure.
• Determine how to use self-correction when the plan is chosen for an enforcement examination.
• Analyze, with examples, how a slight change in the facts can change what options may be available in EPCRS.

A significant amount of information is electronically initiated, recorded, processed, or reported, and information to be used as audit evidence may be available only in electronic form. During this session we will look at different types of information commonly presented to an auditor during the audit of an employee benefit plan, and identify considerations for auditors when evaluating information to be used as audit evidence.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify types of information obtained during employee benefit plan audits
• Recognize what constitues audit evidence
• Determine if sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained

This session will focus on fraud within an EBP plans through recent cases and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze fraud risks related to EBP based on actual recent fraud cases
• Determine preventative controls that would mitigate the fraud risks

It's not uncommon for employee benefit plan auditors to find errors in the application of a plan’s definition of compensation. However, truly understanding a plan’s definition of compensation is not always straight forward. This session will explore different definitions of compensation that are commonly used by plans, as well as some of the nuances that can make understanding the definition of compensation more challenging. Address common audit procedures.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the most common definitions used in plans.
• Recall the definition of compensation
• Indicate common compensation errors and what to do about them.
• Distinguish the difference between compensation and post severance compensation

This session will provide an overview of distributions and common errors in a defined contribution plan and will focus on the testing of distributions and plan expenses for the fundamentals track case study.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the various types of distributions (retirement, rollovers, hardships, loans, etc.), vesting and forfeitures, as well as the different forms of payment (lump sum, annuities).
• Recall the risk assessment of relevant assertions and the planned audit procedures of the case study.
• Indicate sampling and testing procedures for distributions (including vesting and forfeitures), participant loans, and hardships utilizing examples from the fundamental track case study.

At work, we use phrases like "we want you to buy in" or "we just need you to own it." What exactly that means looks different to everyone. This message brings objectivity to those subjective ideas. With enthusiastic wit and wisdom, Greg uses his two decades of real estate investing as the setting to reveal the FIVE ATTRIBUTES OF AN OWNER. Every workplace has people who think and act like Owners, Renters, or Vandals. Owners make big commitments, continually increase value, reach for responsibility, include others, and see the big picture. Shaping an environment, whether in-person or remote, where everyone wants to invest their best daily transforms culture! This message equips you with language, understanding, and tactical next steps.

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish the two enduring metrics of commitment.
• Identify how to persistently add value, regardless of your position in your work life.
• Indicate how to strategically foster inclusion throughout an organization
• Recognize why Vandals are enabled to remain in an organization.

Now that AU-C 703 has been implemented, this session will discuss what worked well, the challenges that were faced, and offer practical suggestions.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the requirements of AU-C 703
• Select key best practices from the lessons learned.

During this session, we will review the purpose and components of a SOC 1 reports and how SOC 1 reports impact risk assessment and internal controls.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify how to approach carve-outs,exceptions and qualifications
• Analyze testing of key controls of complimentary user entity controls, consider reliance on electronic audit evidence

The session provides an overview of typical compensation types, including qualified retirement plans, bonuses, deferred compensation, and fringe benefits. We introduce participants to rules relating to employee income inclusion, employer tax deductions, and the timing of each. Through review and examples, participants will learn to identify tax compliance issues. We include a few very limited comments on book-tax differences. Because, generally, all clients have compensation & benefits , the session will help those who have not taken a compensation and benefits course to gain a general understanding of these items but may also be a good refresher for those who have not dealt with compensation & benefits issues recently.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize typical examples of employee compensation and benefits
• Indicate differences in taxation timing for different types of benefits
• Identify the tax deduction rules that may affect different types of compensation.

This session will cover the Form 5500 return, focusing on the elements that are important for auditors and plan sponsors, and considering what is "substantially complete".

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize material inconsistencies between the Form 5500 and the financial statements, and the impact on the financial statements.
• Analyze a practical example of reviewing a Form 5500 return from both an auditor and plan sponsor's prospective.
• Use the AICPA EBP AQC Form 5500 considerations for auditors

This course is an overview of ESOPs appropriate for any EBP professional. It will use lecture to explain what an ESOP is, what qualified plan rules apply differently to ESOPs as well as key areas of accounting and auditing for ESOPs.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine why companies may sponsor an ESOP
• Identify how an ESOP is structured
• Recognize relevant provisions of ESOPs and the unique accounting and auditing considerations.
• Distinguish what tax rules apply differently for an ESOP

This session is part of the fundamental case study and will cover audit completion and financial reporting for a defined contribution plan, focusing on the fundamental track case study, including required communications to management and those charged with governance.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify presentation requirements for defined contribution plans; review financial statements and excerpts of communications to management and those charged with governance relevant to the fundamental case study sessions.
• Recognize audit procedures necessary related to Form 5500, compliance/nondiscrimination testing, and supplementary schedules.

General session to have an open forum with audience on topics involving the agency and ERISA.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize issues that are facing plan sponsors, accounting and tax professionals who work in employee benefit plans.
• Identify areas of common confusion among those participating and hear from the regulators about their resolution.
• Distinguish problems in guidance issued by government regulators.

What is the most important way to start your day? With the latest news and updates. If you are looking for tax resources to compliment your practice, look no further than this session. We will help you find your way around the mountain of resources for many aspects of retirement planning.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize AICPA related resources
• Identify the wealth of government provided tax resources at your fingertips
• Recall practitioner favorites that could provide useful in your practice

This session will help you make the most of the EBPAQC tools and resources and perform efficient and effective EBP audits.

Learning Objectives:

• Select EBPAQC tools to perform efficient EBP audits
• Recall best practices to improve audit quality

Join us for a roundtable of your peers for firms that do more than 100 EBP audits. This will be a roundtable discussion to talk about issues, ideas, best practices facing your firm and your EBP Practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Compare information about your EBP Practice with peers
• Analyze methodology and practice management of other firms that audit a similar number of EBP audits
• Recall top issues your firm is facing while networking with peer group

Join us for a roundtable of your peers for firms that do less than 100 EBP audits. This will be a roundtable discussion to talk about issues, ideas, best practices facing your firm and your EBP Practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Compare information about your EBP Practice with peers
• Analyze methodology and practice management of other firms that audit a similar number of EBP audits
• Recall top issues your firm is facing while networking with peer group

This session will cover best practices in project management from an EBP auditor and project management specialist's perspective.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply practical tips to help optimize EBP audits in each phase of the audit.
• Identify key tools and processes from a project management specialist.

In this session we will discuss the impact of mergers, acquisitions, and spin offs to employee benefit plans. We will discuss audit risk assessment and potential procedures as well as going through financial reporting under liquidation accounting and Form 5500 reporting.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify mergers, terminations, and spin off transactions
• Identify relevant audit procedures specific to these transactions
• Recognize when a termination is imminent
• Recognize reporting examples under liquidation accounting

Qualified plans may not discriminate in favor of Highly Compensated Employees. There are a number of annual nondiscrimination testing requirements that plans must satisfy to prove compliance with this requirement. This session is intended go beyond the basic tests to explore alternative methodologies and advanced testing techniques in ADP/ACP testing, Coverage testing under 410(b), and non-safe harbor plan design testing under 401(a)(4). The session will include identification of unintentional plan design features that can create complexity, potential impact of SECURE 2.0 changes on nondiscrimination testing, and highlights on tax compliance testing requirements for plan auditors.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand consequences of plan design features on testing requirements
• Assess alternative strategies to change a preliminarily "failing" test to a "passing" test
• Evaluate options for failing tests
• Identify potential impact of SECURE 2.0 on testing

ESG initiatives have dramatically increased in recent years and what was once viewed as a nicety, is now essential at the company, board, management, and stakeholder level of most companies. This session will explore how companies are rapidly moving to address ESG initiatives in their compensation programs and will include tangible examples from the real world. Additionally, we’ll consider ESG issues within retirement plans and consider the latest guidance and trends.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize best practices on tying executive compensation to the success of ESG efforts.
• Analyze high-level why and how to perform regular gender, racial, and internal pay equity analyses.
• Identify impacts from regulatory advances and court cases on retirement plans’ use of ESG.
• Determine the various tools stake-holders can use in evaluating ESG implementation within investments.

There will be a tremendous amount of information covered in the fundamental track sessions, and we are sure there will be questions that may not get answered during the sessions or topics that just need a little bit more explanation. This is your chance to ask about any of the topics covered in the fundamental track sessions – by a panel of the instructors that led these sessions. Come prepared with all of your, or “your friend’s”, questions for our case study leaders.

Learning Objectives:

• Recall answers to outstanding questions in areas of an EBP audit.
• Indicate your clarification or dig deeper on items discussed during the Fundamental Track sessions.

Wondering what the “audit of the future” will look like? According to firm leaders across the country, it’s already happening. While many of these firms used to approach an EBP audit by using the previous year’s audit files as a template, they’re now coming at it from a completely different perspective. They’re re-engineering the audit to meet higher professional and regulatory standards while achieving new levels of efficiency and delivering a lot more value along the way. Join this panel discussion to learn about the four key drivers of audit transformation – technology, methodology, standards and skills – and how firms are managing this change within their organizations.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the key drivers of audit transformation
• Identify how firms are preparing for audit transformation

The objective of this session is to provide participants with a better understanding of insurance products including guaranteed investment contracts and others backed by the general assets of the insurance providers and separate accounts. The session will cover audit and accounting considerations for both ERISA 103 and Non-ERISA 103 audits. The session will also cover trends and developments related to insurance- and annuity-type products that impact both defined benefit and defined contributions plans.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate between insurance products including guaranteed investment contracts and others backed by the general assets of the insurance providers and separate accounts.
• Identify differences in audit and accounting for ERISA 103 and Non-ERISA 103 audits.

Corporate transactions have been on the rise for the last few years, which probably does not come as a surprise to anyone. Unfortunately, after those transactions are closed, the issues and consequences of the transactions on qualified plans do come as a surprise to many of the parties involved. When qualified plans and their issues do become the focus, however, it is often too late to take steps to mitigate risk or opt for resource saving alternatives. In this session, we will discuss some of the most common qualified plan issues encountered during and after corporate transactions so that those issues can be dealt with at the appropriate point in the transaction and transaction related risk can be mitigated.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the issues with asset vs stock sale and be a value added partner with clients and your firm.
• Assess required notices and key but nonrequired communications.

Now that AU-C 703 has been implemented, this session will discuss what worked well, the challenges that were faced, and offer practical suggestions.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the requirements of AU-C 703
• Identify key best practices from the lessons learned.

This session will address best practices for working collaboratively among plan sponsors, service providers, and auditors, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of each and solutions for a successful audit.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the roles and responsibilities of each party involved in an EBP plan audit.
• Recognize pain points and solutions from the perspective of a plan sponsor, recordkeeper, and auditor.
• Identify best practices in working together to achieve an effective and efficient audit.

Submit questions for this session throughout the conference. In this session you will hear from DOL representatives and industry experts who deal with emerging issues and current service opportunities, who will respond to questions with practical and useful guidance.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify answers to audience questions related to benefit plans in your EBP practice.
• Recognize issues facing audit and tax professionals who work in employee benefit plans.
• Indicate best practices to apply to your EBP practice.