Employee Benefit Plans Audit Update: Accounting Principles and Auditing Considerations

Author: Lewis R. Fisher

External audits of employee benefit plans require a specialized skillset and vocabulary in order to meet both the regular audit standards, as well as comply with the expectations of the Department of Labor.

This course will provide a refresher of key audit concepts specific to employee benefit plans, as well as focus on areas where the audit team can provide additional value to the Plan and the Plan sponsor, all while integrating the auditor requirements contained within SAS 136. A special focus on areas where common mistakes are made will include looking at the audit report language, handling nuances such as plan terminations and plan mergers, ensuring adequate internal control documentation exists, as well as other matters commonly noted by Department of Labor inspections.

Publication Date: June 2024

Designed For
External auditors of, and those charged with compliance over, defined contribution employee benefit plans.

Topics Covered

• 2024 audit considerations
• SAS 136 audit steps
• Planning the audit
• Confidentiality
• The audit approach
• Testing - at the Plan level and Participant level
• Regulatory matters
• Secure Act 2.0

Learning Objectives

• Recognize relevant GAAP reporting requirements common to employee benefit plans
• Describe vocabulary and operational nuances of employee benefit plans
• Identify proper audit steps and workpaper documentation in accordance with SAS 136
• Identify fraud risk areas and adequately designed testing to address this risk
• Recognize a best practices list for your audit team to mitigate risk of an incomplete audit file

Level
Update

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Auditing (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
Basic understanding of employee benefit plans.

Advance Preparation
None