Ask the Experts: EBP Audit Season Lunch & Learn
Virtual Panel Discussion
Employee Benefit Plan audit season can be a stressful time — but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Join us for a special virtual Lunch & Learn designed to support you during one of the busiest times of the year. This interactive session features a panel of seasoned experts ready to answer your most pressing questions and share insights to help you tackle challenges head-on. Whether you’re dealing with tricky compliance issues, technical audit concerns, or planning strategies, bring your questions and join the conversation. Let’s work through audit season together.
Senior Auditor
U.S. Department Of Labor
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.
Director
SC&H Group*
Jennifer Amato joined SC&H Group in 2000 and has since become a key member of the firm, specializing in employee benefit plan audits and overseeing the quality management of the audit practice. With a focus on building long-term relationships, Jennifer is committed to providing her clients with not only thorough audit services but also actionable, value-added advice. She and her team work diligently to enhance processes, improve controls, and implement best practices, ensuring her clients receive the highest level of service and expertise.
A graduate of Stevenson University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Accounting, Jennifer is a Certified Public Accountant in both Maryland and Illinois. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MAPCA), and the Chesapeake Human Resources Association (CHRA). Her career is built on a passion for helping clients navigate complex challenges while fostering meaningful connections with both her colleagues and clients. She takes pride in being a trusted advisor, guiding clients through every stage of the audit process.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Jennifer is deeply involved in volunteer work with the Cool Kids Campaign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families facing cancer. She is particularly passionate about giving back to those in need, especially children, as she recognizes the blessings in her own life.
When she’s not at work or volunteering, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. Whether it’s relaxing on the beaches of Ocean City, Maryland, enjoying multiple trips to Disney, or exploring new destinations, family adventures are at the heart of her personal life.
Benefit Audit Group, LLC
Jennifer Downs, CPA
President, Benefit Audit Group, LLC
Jennifer Downs, CPA is President of Benefit Audit Group, LLC. Benefit Audit Group focuses on audits of 401(k) and 403(b) plans.
A graduate of Towson University, Jennifer has over twenty years experience in public accounting and in performing employee benefit plan audits. She is a member of AICPA and MACPA and is the designated audit member responsible for the firm's membership in the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center.
A co‐presenter of advanced employee benefit plan audit topics at the annual MACPA Employee Benefit Plans Conference and I am an active member of the Conference’s planning committee.
She is an active role with the Chesapeake Human Resources Association (CHRA). I am Director of Affiliate Involvement which supports the vendors in CHRA.
Specialties: Audits of 401(k) and 403(b) plans.
Withum
Mark A. Buckberg, CPA, CFE, CFF is a partner at Withum with 20 years of experience. Mark specializes in auditing labor organizations and multiemployer benefit plans. He has expertise in all aspects of federal reporting and compliance for labor unions, employee benefit plans, auditing and consulting for defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, health and welfare funds, vacation funds, royalty funds and training funds. Mark is proficient in preparing Forms 990, 990-T, 5500 and LM-2.
Principal
UHY LLP
Nelly Gizdova
Partner, UHY LLP
Managing Director, UHY Advisors
Nelly has more than 20 years of relevant experience in public accounting, excelling in providing attestation and consulting services.
She leads a division of the Employee Benefits Plan Center of Excellence. Her work is essential in assisting plan administrators to meet stringent Department of Labor and IRS compliance standards, including the crucial tasks of preventing plan qualification failures and managing Form 5500 filings. She also supports plan sponsors during DOL or IRS audits, ensuring their processes withstand governmental scrutiny. Her approach integrates detailed oversight with strategic consulting to enhance the operational efficiency of employee benefit plans.
Nelly’s expertise is valuable in ensuring that not-for-profit organizations and businesses in various sectors achieve and maintain compliance and fiscal health.
Certifications
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Jeanette Stillwagner
Principal, CLA Baltimore
Jeanette brings more than 20 years of experience to her role and spends 100% of her time dedicated to ERISA plan auditing, compliance matters, and government reporting. She manages more than 125 audits of employee benefit plans including 401(k), 403(b), 401(a), profit sharing, money purchase pension, employee stock ownership, defined benefit, and health and welfare plans. Jeanette is a dedicated member of the EBP team, and she assists with quality control review over EBP audits. She is also an office diversity, equity, and inclusion leader and is a proud active member of the Board of Directors for the CLA Foundation.
Partner
SB & Company, LLC
