Discuss changes, challenges and expert insights with your colleagues on the audit side of employee benefit plans.

AGENDA

8:30 AM – 8:35 AM  
Welcome & Announcements 

8:35 AM – 10:05 AM
DOL Update (1.8 Accounting & Auditing)
Session details are still being finalized.
Speaker to be announced

10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
Understanding Risk: Planning & Assessment (1.0 Accounting & Auditing)
Do your employee benefit plan audit procedures account for the appropriate areas of risk? Develop a reliable risk assessment that encompasses recent and upcoming changes in compliance for 2026, including necessary internal controls, common documentation deficiencies and more.
Erin Breit, CPA – Audit Principal, ERISA Services Practice, BDO USA, Denver, CO
Karolyn Ladas, CPA – Audit Principal, ERISA Services Practice, BDO USA, Grand Rapids

11:15 AM – 12:05 PM
Peer Review Update (1.0 Accounting & Auditing)
Examine the peer review process with a focused look at how it applies to Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) audits. Explore the key areas peer reviewers scrutinize in ERISA engagements and common deficiencies and errors currently being identified. Gain practical insight into reviewer expectations and frequent pitfalls to help strengthen audit quality and peer review outcomes.
Randy Dummer, CPA – Partner, HHM Certified Public Accountants, Cleveland, OH

12:05 PM – 12:50 PM
Break for Lunch

12:50 PM – 1:40 PM
All About Form 5500: Auditor Edition (1.0 Accounting & Auditing)
Still relatively new, SAS 136 introduced significant changes to the auditor’s report, employee benefit plan management responsibilities and governance communication requirements for plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Explore illustrative examples to investigate common issues with disclosures, with a special focus on Form 5500 implications and its associated supplementary schedules.
David Thornton, CPA – Senior Manager, Plante Moran, Southfield
Katie Vought, CPA – Senior Manager, Plante Moran, Southfield

1:50 PM – 2:40 PM
Audit Implications of Continued Secure Act 2.0 Provisions (1.0 Accounting & Auditing)
Review key SECURE Act 2.0 provisions affecting retirement plans and how they are implemented by plan sponsors and service providers. Examine common operational pitfalls and governance considerations, while translating SECURE Act 2.0 changes into practical audit implications, including impacts on financial statements and Form 5500 reporting.
Nichole Haviaras, CPA – Principal, UHY, Sterling Heights
Victor Hicks II, CFP, AIF – Wealth Advisor, Managing Director, Perigon Wealth Management

2:50 PM – 3:40 PM
Beyond the Hype: Practical AI for Everyday Audits (1.0 Accounting & Auditing)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being adopted as a tool that helps auditors with a range of tasks, from audit planning to journal entry testing. Discover the practical applications of AI in audit processes, including building reports and testing.
Andrew Cuello, CFA – Strategic Account Executive, DataSnipper, New York, NY

3:50 PM – 4:50 PM
Ask the EBP Experts Panel (1.2 Accounting & Auditing)
Navigate the complexities of Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) audits with the informed perspectives of our expert panelists. Discover how others are approaching new and ongoing challenges and pose your own questions to the panel.
Justin Masters, CPA – Principal, Assurance and Financial Reporting, Rehmann, Troy
Jayme Moerdyke, CPA – Senior Manager, Plante Moran, Southfield
Additional panelist to be announced
Moderator: Nicholas Nahat, JD, LL.M. – Senior Attorney, Butzel Long, Troy

4:50 PM
Program Adjournment

PRICING DETAILS
Register early to take advantage of the best price! Please note, discounted pricing is already reflected in the online price. No promo code is needed.
Through April 16: $225 MICPA Members/ $375 Non-Members
April 17 - April 30: $245 MICPA Members/ $395 Non-Members
May 1 - May 14: $265 MICPA Members/ $415 Non-Members