SAN DIEGO, Calif., July 11, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fiduciary Education - the premier online learning and certification hub for retirement and employee benefits plan management - is proud to announce the launch of its newest course, Guide to Selecting and Hiring an Employee Benefit Plan Auditor.
Created in partnership with industry-expert instructor John Russon, CPA, - the comprehensive 2-4 hour course covers Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requirements for annual audits of plan financial statements by a qualified public accountant for 401(k), 403(b) and Defined Benefit plans.
According to the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), "Thirty-nine percent of audits (nearly 4 out of 10) contain major deficiencies with respect to one or more relevant GAAS requirements which would lead to rejecting of a Form 5500 filing, putting $653 billion and 22.5 million plan participants and beneficiaries at risk."
"Too often the plan audit gets overlooked," said Brent Willey, Co-Founder of Fiduciary Education. "With an expert instructor guiding the way, this course is a step in the right direction for the industry and plan audit quality."
A leader in the employee benefit plan audit industry, course instructor John Russon, CPA is a Founding Partner at Pension Assurance LLP in Woodland Hills, CA. He has spent over a decade developing specialized expertise in retirement and employee benefit plan auditing – having built a foundation as a leading partner and advisor to clients and colleagues.
"When plan sponsors are proactive about getting educated on retirement plan administration and prepare ahead of time for the audit, a qualified audit team can make the audit process smooth and reassuring," said Russon. "The material covered in this course will give plan sponsors actionable solutions to implement well before they are subject to audit."
In developing this course with Fiduciary Education, Russon's goal is to improve plan management and boost fiduciary confidence by pulling back the curtain on the entire employee benefit plan audit process, including:
- Understanding what an audit is, who needs one, and why
- Preparing for audit requirements and avoiding common missteps
- Knowing what to look for when selecting and hiring an auditor
- Accessing expert tools and insider resources
Plan Fiduciaries and Committee Members, HR/Benefits Professionals, CFO's and Business Owners, Retirement Plan Advisors and anyone looking to hire an auditor or learn a unique skill can benefit from this course. Three hours of CE credits are approved for designations offered by the HR Certification Institute™ (HRCI®), Society of Human Resources Management Professional Development Credits (SHRM-PDC), and eligible for and Certified Employee Benefits Specialists (CEBS) self-reported CE credit.
More information and course registration can be found here: https://fiduciaryeducation.com/p/guide-to-selecting-and-hiring-an-employee-benefit-plan-auditor
About Fiduciary Education
Fiduciary Education's mission is to improve plan management by empowering plan sponsors and professionals through premium courses and insider tools for 401(k), 403(b) and Defined Benefits plans of any size. The online learning and certification hub is designed to better equip fiduciaries and plan managers with the knowledge needed to create better retirement plan outcomes for both businesses and employees.
About Pension Assurance LLP
Pension Assurance LLP is an accounting firm exclusively dedicated to providing assurance services for retirement plans, pursuant to plan audit requirements under federal law. The firm's team of experts have experience auditing all types of retirement plans, including 401(k), 403(b), Defined Benefits and Defined Contributions. Founded on over a decade of focused expertise, Pension Assurance LLP is a world-class practice focused on performing high quality and efficient retirement plan audits for clients year after year.
SOURCE Fiduciary Education
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