The Employee Benefit Plan Audit Conference equips CPAs who audit Employee Benefit Plans (EBPs) with guidance on planning and performing more efficient and effective audits in accordance with the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide and Department of Labor audit requirements.
This is the VIRTUAL EVENT!
Jennifer Keim, CPA, CEBS
A senior auditor within the Office of the Chief Accountant at EBSA, Jennifer has over 16 years of public accounting experience. She focused her time exclusively on performing employee benefit plan compliance audits, including audits of 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, defined benefit plans and money purchase plans. Jennifer supervised and reviewed the work performed by employee benefit plan engagement teams, served as employee benefit plan resource to the firm and actively participated in and facilitated the firm’s continuing education programs to stay informed on the latest developments as they affected GAAP, GAAS, Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations.
Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jennifer also obtained a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designation sponsored by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and Wharton School of Business.
Marcus J. Aron, CPA, CGMA
Chief, Division of Accounting Services
Employee Benefits Security Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, D.C.
Mr. Aron has over thirty years of experience in working with audits of ERISA-covered plans. He is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of EBSA’s CPA Firm Inspection Program, providing technical assistance to plan filers and plan professionals, and providing ERISA-related accounting and auditing expertise within EBSA.
Mr. Aron is a certified public accountant and holds a B.B.A. degree with a major in
accounting from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Carl Mayes is a Managing Director with the Professional Practice Group of Aprio, LLP. He oversees the Group’s assurance team with responsibility for the firm’s engagement quality reviews, internal inspections and assurance-related learning and consultations.
Previously, Carl served as the AICPA's Vice President - Audit and Accounting Quality, overseeing the AICPA's Governmental Audit Quality Center, Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center, Not-for-Profit Section, Enhancing Audit Quality initiative and A&A learning portfolio. He directed CPA Evolution from inception through 2021, redefining the CPA licensure model, and served on the AICPA Peer Review team.
Carl has been named one of the top 40 accounting professionals under 40 by CPA Practice Advisor. He is a licensed CPA in North Carolina and a Certified Association Executive.
Phillip Mills is an experienced CPA and the Director of Assurance Learning at Aprio, LLP. With over 13 years in public accounting and five years in professional teaching, Phillip is a subject matter expert in US GAAP and US GAAS, specializing in planning, risk assessment, and internal controls. He has a proven track record in content development, learning methodology, and facilitation, as well as proficiency in quality management systems. Phillip is recognized as one of the top instructors in the industry.
His experience spans various industries, including employee benefit plans, not-for-profit organizations, and privately held businesses. As a member of Aprio's internal inspection team, Phillip identifies improvement opportunities through learning development to enhance team members' technical skills. He also researches emerging accounting and auditing standards, contributing to the design of training and implementation. Additionally, he teaches both technical and soft skills as a contracted instructor at Thomson Reuters Audit Watch University, 20-20 Services, LLC, and various state societies.
Phillip holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting from the University of Baltimore, where he was a Wilson Presidential Award Scholar and graduated summa cum laude. He also has extensive tutoring experience and was named Peer Tutor of the Year at Howard Community College.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Phillip actively volunteers with the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), serving as an instructor and content creator for various conferences. He also develops and delivers CPE podcasts for LumiQ and acts as an advisor to the Strathmere Improvement Association, a 501(c)(3) organization.
When he is not teaching or reading the latest authoritative literature, Phillip enjoys spending time at the Jersey shore and traveling across the country to play disc golf.
Every employee benefit plan audit engagement requires the auditor to identify risks and tailor the audit plan to the specific plan being audited. Each plan has unique provisions, personnel, and circumstances that necessitate a thorough risk assessment process. This includes evaluating internal controls, performing risk assessments, and customizing the audit programs accordingly. Audit planning is a crucial phase of any audit engagement, and it is essential to understand how to identify and respond to risks to ensure compliance with auditing and regulatory standards.
We will take a 10 minute break during this session.
Carl Mayes is a Managing Director with the Professional Practice Group of Aprio, LLP. He oversees the Group’s assurance team with responsibility for the firm’s engagement quality reviews, internal inspections and assurance-related learning and consultations.
Previously, Carl served as the AICPA's Vice President - Audit and Accounting Quality, overseeing the AICPA's Governmental Audit Quality Center, Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center, Not-for-Profit Section, Enhancing Audit Quality initiative and A&A learning portfolio. He directed CPA Evolution from inception through 2021, redefining the CPA licensure model, and served on the AICPA Peer Review team.
Carl has been named one of the top 40 accounting professionals under 40 by CPA Practice Advisor. He is a licensed CPA in North Carolina and a Certified Association Executive.
Phillip Mills is an experienced CPA and the Director of Assurance Learning at Aprio, LLP. With over 13 years in public accounting and five years in professional teaching, Phillip is a subject matter expert in US GAAP and US GAAS, specializing in planning, risk assessment, and internal controls. He has a proven track record in content development, learning methodology, and facilitation, as well as proficiency in quality management systems. Phillip is recognized as one of the top instructors in the industry.
His experience spans various industries, including employee benefit plans, not-for-profit organizations, and privately held businesses. As a member of Aprio's internal inspection team, Phillip identifies improvement opportunities through learning development to enhance team members' technical skills. He also researches emerging accounting and auditing standards, contributing to the design of training and implementation. Additionally, he teaches both technical and soft skills as a contracted instructor at Thomson Reuters Audit Watch University, 20-20 Services, LLC, and various state societies.
Phillip holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting from the University of Baltimore, where he was a Wilson Presidential Award Scholar and graduated summa cum laude. He also has extensive tutoring experience and was named Peer Tutor of the Year at Howard Community College.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Phillip actively volunteers with the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), serving as an instructor and content creator for various conferences. He also develops and delivers CPE podcasts for LumiQ and acts as an advisor to the Strathmere Improvement Association, a 501(c)(3) organization.
When he is not teaching or reading the latest authoritative literature, Phillip enjoys spending time at the Jersey shore and traveling across the country to play disc golf.
Every employee benefit plan audit engagement requires the auditor to identify risks and tailor the audit plan to the specific plan being audited. Each plan has unique provisions, personnel, and circumstances that necessitate a thorough risk assessment process. This includes evaluating internal controls, performing risk assessments, and customizing the audit programs accordingly. Audit planning is a crucial phase of any audit engagement, and it is essential to understand how to identify and respond to risks to ensure compliance with auditing and regulatory standards.
Michele is the managing prinicpal of the Maryland office and a Principal in the Benefit Services Group. She specializes in providing assurance and consulting services to plan sponsors of various single and multiple employer benefit plans including 401(k), 403(b), 401(a), 11-k, profit sharing, money purchase pension, employee stock ownership, defined benefit, and health and welfare plans. Michele also has experience performing audits of large federal government plans. Finally, Michele has extensive experience performing full scope audits for plans with large investment portfolios with complex alternative investments.
Michele is also responsible for developing and implementing the Firm-wide employee benefit plan audit approach and the related trainings. Michele also serves as one of the Firm-wide audit quality reviewers for employee benefit assurance services and participates in internal inspection. Finally Michele is a member of the Firm-wide employee benefit plan marketing team.
Rachel is a Principal with CLA and is solely dedicated to CLA's Employee Benefit Plan Services Group. With more than 12 years' experience, she has extensive experience dedicated to providing assurance and consulting services to plan sponsors of various single and multiple employer benefit plans.
The objectives of this session will be the following:
Brandon Long is an experienced, AV Preeminent-rated employee benefits attorney. He represents regional and national clients, including large publicly-traded corporations and governmental entities. Clients seek his advice for practical solutions to complex problems, as well as his ability to make technical concepts understandable to executives, employees, and other lawyers.
Brandon currently serves as an elected member of McAfee & Taft’s seven-member board of directors. Prior to being elected to the firm’s board, he served for many years as the leader of the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group.
Brandon is a Fellow in the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, the highest level of recognition for an employee benefits attorney. His achievements have also earned him inclusion in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Oklahoma Super Lawyers, and The Best Lawyers in America (employee benefits/ERISA law). Brandon was selected by Best Lawyers as “Oklahoma City Employee Benefits/ERISA Lawyer of the Year” for 2021 and 2025, honors given to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each market.
Brandon is a frequent author and speaker on employee benefits topics nationwide and has played key roles in a number of leading industry organizations, including the SouthWest Benefits Association (past president), the Employee Benefits Institute of Kansas City (member, steering committee), the American Bar Association (co-chair, Employee Benefits Subcommittee on Self Correction and Administrative Practices), and the Oklahoma Board on Legislative Compensation (prior member appointed by the Speaker of the House). His passion for advocating for employer health plans also led him to co-found the Oklahoma Employers Healthcare Alliance, a coalition committed to educating and empowering employers and their employees to make informed healthcare-related decisions, as well as promoting healthcare quality, cost-effectiveness, transparency, and accountability.
Brandon’s practice is focused on matters involving qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and executive compensation. He routinely advises board committees regarding fiduciary and investment issues and the compliance aspects of new or evolving laws. A portion of his practice is also devoted to ERISA litigation, including the defense of employers in benefits litigation and advocating for employer plans in appellate litigation. Brandon also provides comments to legislators and regulators on what the law should be, and has submitted amicus briefs to courts encouraging decisions that help employer plans and their covered participants.
Almost 30 years ago, Brandon started in the mail room of another large law firm, worked as a legal assistant while going to law school at night, and graduated ranked first in his law school class. He practiced with large national and international law firms in Dallas and Washington, D.C. before returning to his hometown and joining McAfee & Taft. He holds a master of laws in taxation from the Villanova University School of Law.
This session will discuss the SECURE 2.0 provisions newly effective in 2024 and 2025, including how the provisions will affect audits and audit testing, what is required v. what is optional, and how provisions are being implemented by recordkeepers. The session will additionally cover risks and considerations for plan sponsors.
Mike provides Assurance & Advisory services to the firm’s clients and consults on technical matters related to professional standards. With a tenure dating back to 1986, he became a Member of the Firm in 1990 and transitioned into his consulting role in 2022.
Boasting 40+ years of experience, Mike has worked with manufacturing, retirement plan, construction, financial institution, and nonprofit clients. His expertise expands to business and strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions, employee stock ownership plans, internal controls, and governance structures of business entities. He served as the firm’s Director of Audit, Accounting, and Quality Control for 18 years. He chaired the firm’s A&A Committee during his tenure and has been an integral member of Management and Technology Committees and various additional Task Forces. Mike has performed a significant number of peer reviews and consulted on quality management issues for firms nationwide. He also serves as an instructor for continuing professional education courses pertaining to accounting and auditing on the local, regional, and national levels.
Mike has served as Member and Chair of various distinguished committees within the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA), North Carolina Association of CPAs (NCACPA), and Allinial Global over the past 25 years. His engagement has led to meaningful contributions to the wider accounting community. Current and past positions include:
Mike has significant authorship involvement in numerous resources published under AICPA committees, including practice aids. In June 2020, he was invited to collaborate with Bob Dohrer, AICPA Chief Auditor, in delivering a webcast on the Audit Implications of COVID-19. Addressing queries from hundreds of practitioners, the webcast emerged as a widely utilized resource during the ongoing global pandemic.
Mike is passionate about doing quality work to assist firms in achieving compliance and representing smaller firms on large-scale national/international committees.
Benefit plan audits come with unique challenges, and peer reviews often uncover common pitfalls that firms must address. This session will look at the most frequent peer review findings in employee benefit plan audits and offer practical strategies to help you avoid them. Attendees will gain insights into best practices, documentation improvements, and compliance considerations to enhance audit quality and minimize deficiencies. Whether you're preparing for a peer review or looking to strengthen your audit approach, this session will equip you with the knowledge to stay ahead of common issues.
Patrick Blanchard is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal Tax, LLC in Denver. He assists clients with a variety of issues related to qualified retirement plans.
Mr. Blanchard’s experience includes performing nondiscrimination testing with a particular emphasis on complex controlled groups and unique testing conditions (e.g., subsequent to M&A activity); representing plan sponsors in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor (DOL) examinations; assisting plan sponsors to identify and correct operational failures under the IRS and DOL correction programs; and assisting employers throughout the process of adopting or making significant changes to retirement programs.
Additionally, Mr. Blanchard assists clients with their non-qualified deferred compensation plans and other compensation programs to ensure compliance with all applicable statutes and guidance.
Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Blanchard was a Managing Director with Compensation & Benefit Solutions, a leading provider of compensation and benefit services based in Denver.
Mr. Blanchard earned a bachelor's degree in general business from Southwestern University, a law degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and an LLM in Taxation from the University of Denver. While attending the University of Denver, he represented low-income taxpayers before the IRS as a part of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Mr. Blanchard is currently an adjunct professor of Qualified Pension & Profit Sharing Plans in the University of Denver’s Graduate Tax Program and frequently speaks on qualified retirement plan compliance and administration.
Ms. Milligan consults on a wide range of qualified retirement plan administration and compliance issues and specializes in performing nondiscrimination testing for complex or unique fact patterns (e.g., controlled groups, plan mergers, etc.). She regularly assists plan sponsors with other administration and compliance activities, such as calculating annual employer contributions; completing the plan’s financial statement audit; and correcting operational errors through Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor correction programs.
Additionally, Ms. Milligan assists with compensation-related issues, such as pay equity analyses and complicated tax-related calculations. She also applies her background in statistics to data analysis projects, including plan design models and forecasts. Ms. Milligan is an expert in working with client data and performing calculations.
Prior to joining A&M, Ms. Milligan was an Associate with Compensation & Benefit Solutions in Denver, Colorado.
Ms. Milligan earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematical and computer sciences and a master’s degree in applied mathematics and statistics from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden. She is a member of ASPPA and holds the Qualified Pension Administrator and Qualified 401(k) Consultant credentials.
Even diligent plan sponsors may periodically face operational errors in their retirement plans, and timely correction of these errors is imperative to maintain compliance with IRS and DOL rules. Join us to discuss the programs available for correcting through the IRS and DOL and general principles for correcting the most common issues identified during audits. We will also highlight some recent updates and developments, including the DOL’s brand new self-correction program.