Employee Benefit Plan Virtual Conference
Begins: Ends:
(Check-In 8:30am EST)
Virtual
8.00 Credits
Member Price $359.00
Non-Member Price $519.00
Overview
MassCPAs is excited to bring back our ERISA Conference this spring! Based on feedback from our members, this year’s conference will be presented virtually over two half-days, and is ideal for CFOs and staff, auditors and tax practitioners, plan sponsors and service providers and any professionals working with or managing employee benefit plans. We’ll cover essential information you need to guide your businesses and clients.
Sponsored by:
Tuesday, May 20
General Session
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Department of Labor (DOL) Update
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Accounting and Auditing Update
Jake Parente, PwC LLPJake Parente
Jake Parente is an assurance senior manager in the Asset and Wealth Management Practice at PwC’s Boston office. A designated employee benefit plan specialist within PwC’s Employee Benefit Plan Audit Practice, he serves clients relating to employee benefit plans, registered investment companies, collective investment products and other financial services companies. In addition, Parente has served many employee benefit plan clients, including 11-k and non-11-k, full scope and limited scope audits, and defined contribution and defined benefit plans, in a variety of industries, including asset management, higher education, insurance, biotechnology and computer technology.
Megan Brooks
Megan Brooks is an assurance director at PwC LLP in the asset and wealth management practice, serving clients relating to employee benefit plans, registered investment companies, collective investment products, hedge funds and other financial services companies. Additionally, she is a designated employee benefit plan specialist within the PwC LLP employee benefit plan audit practice. Brooks also spent two years in the PwC LLP Sydney, Australia office with a client base including an ASX-listed investment manager, a global investment manager, registered investment products and superannuation funds
In this session, we’ll discuss various accounting and auditing reminders, including SAS 145 (understanding the entity and its environment and assessing the risks of material misstatement), SOC 1 evaluations, FinREC recommendations, investment disclosures and forfeitures.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Managing Change in the ERISA Audit Environment
Randy Dummer, Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough PLLCRandy Dummer
Randy Dummer, CPA is a Partner with HHM in the accounting and audit area, joining the firm in 2011. He is the engagement partner on several employee benefit plan audits at HHM, as well as for automobile dealerships, manufacturers, not-for-profit organizations and other commercial businesses. He also performs numerous peer reviews and serves on the East Tennessee Review Acceptable Board and the Tennessee Peer Review Committee. He was previously the firm wide leader for the employee benefit plan audit practice at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP in Appleton, Wisconsin. The practice consisted of approximately 700 engagements performed by personnel in eight different offices. In this role, Randy developed and taught the firms internal training annually for their benefit plan audit staff, updated tools and templates, and served as the primary technical resource for employee benefit plan audit issues. He has extensive experience with audits of employee benefit plans, as well as not-for-profit organizations, and commercial businesses. He has been teaching seminars for the AICPA since 2003. Randy is a 2012-13 recipient of the AICPA Outstanding Instructor Award. John received his B.S. and MBA from Auburn University, MS (Statistics) from University of Texas and his JD from the University of Alabama.
Changes to a plan can significantly complicate ERISA audits. In this session, we’ll explore how auditors must adjust their audit plans to accommodate these changes, including changes in plan providers, year-end adjustments, mergers, terminations, freezes in defined benefit pension plans and how plan amendments that alter provisions can impact the audit.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Auditing Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs)
Jason Eddy, Grant Thornton LLPJason Eddy
Jason Eddy, CPA, is the practice leader for Grant Thornton LLP’s National Employee Benefit Plan Practice, where he is responsible for providing services to complex employee benefit plan engagements across the U.S. He has extensive experience in dealing with reporting and disclosure issues related to benefit plans and serves as a technical resource for his firm on employee benefit plan auditing, accounting and reporting issues. Eddy has over 20 years of experience leading large employee benefit plan engagement teams and also performing both peer reviews and internal inspections for other employee benefit plan engagements.
In this session, we’ll cover pooled employer plans(PEPs), and the unique risks and audit considerations associated with these types of plans.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Closing Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
Wednesday, May 21
General Session
- Opening Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Legal and Regulatory Update
David Guadagnoli, Sullivan & Worcester LLPDavid Guadagnoli
David Guadagnoli is a tax partner in the Boston office of the law firm of Sullivan & Worcester LLP. Guadagnoli is a graduate of the Boston University School of Law and has an MBA and an LLM in Tax, also from BU. Guadagnoli specializes in employee benefits and represents employers, individuals and advisors on a wide variety of employee benefit issues. He is well versed in all aspects of retirement plans including nondiscrimination testing issues, plan recordkeeping and conversion issues, fee analysis and fiduciary issues, IRS and DOL audits and the use of self-correction and agency-approved correction programs. Guadagnoli is a regular speaker and commentator at seminars and conferences.
Amy Sheridan
Amy Sheridan is a partner in the Tax Department of Sullivan & Worcester’s Boston office. She concentrates her practice in the employee benefits and executive compensation area and is experienced in addressing documentation and compliance issues for welfare plans (including federal health care reform and HIPAA privacy and security requirements), qualified retirement plans and individual retirement accounts. Additionally, Sheridan designs and reviews nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, including for compliance with Internal Revenue Code Sections 409A and 457A.
The pace of change continues to accelerate with new regulations, procedures and potential legislation. In this session, we’ll review provisions relevant to 2024 audits and filings, provide updates on the latest guidance, address plan correction issues and discuss what’s coming next. This session is designed to ensure that you —and your clients—are staying current.
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- Best Practices and Efficiencies in EBP Audits
Randy Dummer, Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough PLLCRandy Dummer
Randy Dummer, CPA is a Partner with HHM in the accounting and audit area, joining the firm in 2011. He is the engagement partner on several employee benefit plan audits at HHM, as well as for automobile dealerships, manufacturers, not-for-profit organizations and other commercial businesses. He also performs numerous peer reviews and serves on the East Tennessee Review Acceptable Board and the Tennessee Peer Review Committee. He was previously the firm wide leader for the employee benefit plan audit practice at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP in Appleton, Wisconsin. The practice consisted of approximately 700 engagements performed by personnel in eight different offices. In this role, Randy developed and taught the firms internal training annually for their benefit plan audit staff, updated tools and templates, and served as the primary technical resource for employee benefit plan audit issues. He has extensive experience with audits of employee benefit plans, as well as not-for-profit organizations, and commercial businesses. He has been teaching seminars for the AICPA since 2003. Randy is a 2012-13 recipient of the AICPA Outstanding Instructor Award. John received his B.S. and MBA from Auburn University, MS (Statistics) from University of Texas and his JD from the University of Alabama.
In this session, we’ll share ways to be more efficient and effective in performing ERISA audits, including practical tips for trimming hours from your audits, while focusing on performing those audits with quality that will satisfy peer reviewers.
This session is available to registrants only.
- The Current and Future Landscape of Audit Technology
Peter Zender, Galasso Learning Solutions LLCPeter Zender
Peter Zender, CPA, is an accounting and audit training facilitator at Galasso Learning Solutions with extensive experience in auditing and technology. His expertise in auditing healthcare companies, employee benefit plans and private companies with complex transactions makes him a key contributor to technical accounting training programs. Before joining GLS, Zender worked at a Big 4 firm, specializing in auditing healthcare companies in both public and private sectors. He later transitioned to an internal audit role at a Fortune 500 company before returning to public accounting at a national firm, where he focused on audits involving business combinations, asset acquisitions, GAAP to IFRS conversions and technology implementations. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with learning and development teams to design and facilitate training on both technical accounting and soft skills. Zender also has experience designing, overseeing and leading weeklong training programs and producing CPE-eligible accounting podcasts.
This session explores how technology is transforming the audit profession. Learn about key trends including data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, and how they’re enhancing and improving the quality of benefit plan audits. Through demos, case studies and practical tips, you’ll learn how to navigate and adapt to the evolving audit landscape. This session will help CPAs stay ahead in a rapidly changing profession.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Retirement Plan Corrections – Latest Developments Under EPCRS
Brandon Long, McAfee & TaftBrandon Long
Brandon Long is an AV preeminent-rated employee benefits attorney who serves as the leader of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group at McAfee & Taft in Oklahoma City. Representing regional and national clients with thousands of employees, including large publicly traded corporations and governmental entities, clients seek Long’s advice for practical, creative solutions to complex problems, as well as his ability to make highly technical concepts understandable to executives, employees and other lawyers. In addition, his achievements have earned him inclusion in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Oklahoma Super Lawyer and The Best Lawyers in America (employee benefits/ERISA law). Long was also selected by Best Lawyers as the “Oklahoma City Employee Benefits (ERISA) Lawyer of the Year” for 2021, an honor only given to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each market.
In this session, we’ll cover new developments related to common errors and corrections (e.g., overpayments) and still outstanding questions. We’ll also share the latest DOL correction guidance regarding self-correction of late deposits and loan repayments.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- SECURE Act Loose Ends, Trends, and Issues to Consider
Brandon Long, McAfee & TaftBrandon Long
Brandon Long is an AV preeminent-rated employee benefits attorney who serves as the leader of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group at McAfee & Taft in Oklahoma City. Representing regional and national clients with thousands of employees, including large publicly traded corporations and governmental entities, clients seek Long’s advice for practical, creative solutions to complex problems, as well as his ability to make highly technical concepts understandable to executives, employees and other lawyers. In addition, his achievements have earned him inclusion in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Oklahoma Super Lawyer and The Best Lawyers in America (employee benefits/ERISA law). Long was also selected by Best Lawyers as the “Oklahoma City Employee Benefits (ERISA) Lawyer of the Year” for 2021, an honor only given to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each market.
In this session, we’ll discuss SECURE Act loose ends and issues, including mandatory Roth contribution, “super” catch-up contributions, penalty-free withdrawal provisions, required automatic enrollment(including merger and acquistion) and more.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Closing Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
- Sean Alexander - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Pranita Amarasinghe - Greater Boston Food Bank (Boston, 02118)
- Frank Ardito - G.T. Reilly & Company (Milton, 02186)
- Karla Baquerizo - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Courtney Beliveau - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- Brian Bernard - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Jill Blumen - Walter Shuffain (Westwood, 02090)
- Kevin Bonnett - G.T. Reilly & Company (Milton, 02186)
- Jasmine Chen - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Amy Christian - Lombardi & Keegan (Pittsfield, 01201)
- Abby Cleggett - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Barry Coscia - Ryan & Coscia PC (Salem, 01970)
- Andrew Cowan - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Jagdish Dave - Ardito Toscano & McCollum PC (North Andover, 01845)
- William Debler - King McNamara Moriarty LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Katie Deknikker - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Bradley Dumais - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Jill Dunn - Pozerski Hatch & Company, P.C. (Rockland, 02370)
- Michaela Dwyer - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Tara Ellis - King McNamara Moriarty LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Melissa English - MP P.C. (Springfield, 01144)
- Cody Eriksen - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Christopher Ernest - Pozerski Hatch & Company, P.C. (Rockland, 02370)
- Kieth Goldie - Pozerski Hatch & Company, P.C. (Rockland, 02370)
- David Gordon - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Michelle Hatch - Pozerski Hatch & Company, P.C. (Rockland, 02370)
- Jeremy Held - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Yasmine Hubby - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Theresa Hussey - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Janelle Iannone - QRGA, LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Robert Jesson - Jesson, Oslin & Associates, LLP (Milton, 02186)
- James Johnston - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- John Keegan - Lombardi & Keegan (Pittsfield, 01201)
- Sharon Kennedy - CBIZ (Providence, 02903)
- Linda Kramer - G.T. Reilly & Company (Milton, 02186)
- Nicholas LaPier - LaPier, Dillon & Associates, P.C. (West Springfield, 01089)
- Richard Lombardi - Lombardi & Keegan (Pittsfield, 01201)
- Hayley MacDonald - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Alfred Magid - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Kevin Maguire - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- Eric Mahoney - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Nicholas Maida - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Matthew Makarski - Pozerski Hatch & Company, P.C. (Rockland, 02370)
- Jeanne Mickel - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Thomas Moretti - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- Steven Moutsoulas - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Bianca Naude - G.T. Reilly & Company (Milton, 02186)
- Monica Needle - King McNamara Moriarty LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Jill Olson - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Tyler Peich - LaPier, Dillon & Associates, P.C. (West Springfield, 01089)
- Michael Ryan - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Neta Saar - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Lawrence Sexton - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Ryan Sturgis - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Jeffrey Swanberg - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- Jose Tarrio - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- Karina Tomlinson - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Jamie Tong-Chow - Tonneson + Co (Wakefield, 01880)
- Tom Ventullo - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Mark Wojcicki - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
Non-Member Price $519.00
Member Price $359.00