Accounting & Auditing

The use of bookkeeping software, such as Quicken, QuickBooks and Peachtree/Sage50, has permeated the accounting field in recent years. Most of these bookkeeping software market themselves as your client’s business partner.

From ERISA to the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) to regulations to pieces of sub-regulatory guidance hidden away on governmental websites, a complicated web of sources governs qualified retirement plan compliance—and for all the parties involved, ensuring retirement plans adhere to the litany of federal legal requirements can be overwhelming. Despite the best of efforts, mistakes can and do happen all too often.

One of the many specialized areas CPAs can focus on is audits of employee benefits plans, which are subject to the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). There is typically elevated risk in these engagements because the Department of Labor (DOL) oversees the Form 5500 filings to which the audited financial statements are attached.

By now, you should be aware of the new Statement of Quality Management Standards (and related new audit and compilation and review standards) issued in June 2022. The July/August 2022 Tennessee CPA Journal included a good article that covered the requirements of these new standards. Every firm that performs attest work will be impacted by these changes.