MNCPA Audits of Employee Benefit Plans Conference (25CF - EBPA)
5/18/20268:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST
Location: Online
Event Description
Description:
Tackle employee benefit plans with confidence at the MNCPA Audits of Employee Benefit Plans Conference. Dive into case studies on audit pitfalls to avoid common mistakes and apply practical solutions. Gain a deeper understanding of ESOPs and how they differ from typical 401(k) audits. Learn about the various types of audits and identify the tripping points to navigate challenges effectively. Choose your ideal way to attend — either in-person or via livestream.
Designed for: CPAs, auditors and other financial professionals who are responsible for auditing employee benefit plans
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Prep: None
Level: Update
8 CPE
Speakers:
Randy Dummer, CPA
Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough PLLC
Chattanooga, TN
Randy Dummer, CPA, quality control partner in the accounting and assurance department at Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough (HHM), joined the firm in 2011 and leads key initiatives including the peer review practice and employee benefit plan audit niche. Randy is a nationally recognized employee benefit plan audit specialist and serves as a discussion leader for the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), earning the AICPA Outstanding Discussion Leader Award eight times. He instructs the Audits of 401(k) Plans webcast and teaches employee benefit plan audit courses. Randy serves as audit partner for 401(k), 403(b), ESOP, defined benefit pension and health and welfare plan audits. As captain for approximately 50 peer reviews each year, Randy helps CPA firms strengthen accounting, auditing and attestation quality. He serves on the peer review committee of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants and is an approved ERISA audit subject matter expert for the AICPA enhanced oversight project.
Erin Griswold
Grant Thornton LLP
Salt Lake City, UT
Erin Griswold, CPA, manager in the employee benefit plan practice at Grant Thornton, began her public accounting career in 2013 and has specialized exclusively in benefit plan audits since 2019. Erin has been a dedicated member of Grant Thornton’s employee benefit plan audit practice for the past four years, managing a broad range of defined contribution, defined benefit, health and welfare and employee stock ownership plans. She serves as lead manager for the firm’s employee benefit plan SOC 1 initiative, overseeing reviews of major service providers and developing key audit documentation used firmwide. Erin also supports the onboarding of new benefit plan clients, including documenting internal controls at both the entity and service provider levels.
Marjorie Heap, CPA
Eide Bailly LLP
Minneapolis, MN
Marjorie H. Heap, CPA, a senior manager with Eide Bailly, LLP, has experience in all phases of employee benefit plan engagements including planning, execution and quality control. In addition, she has a wide variety of public accounting experience covering all levels of financial statement service across several industries, developing and teaching training programs, and involvement in various levels of firm quality control.
Jennifer Keim, CPA, CEBS
U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Keim, CPA, CEBS, senior auditor at the Office of the Chief Accountant at EBSA, brings more than 16 years of public accounting experience focused on employee benefit plan audits. Prior to joining EBSA, Jennifer spent 16 years in public accounting, primarily auditing employee benefit plans. She specializes in compliance audits for 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit and money purchase plans. Jennifer has reviewed audit workpapers, advised engagement teams and contributed to continuing education programs on GAAP, GAAS and DOL and IRS regulations. She has spent the past eight years with the Office of the Chief Accountant.
Debra Linder, JD/MA, CPA
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Minneapolis, MN
Debra J. Linder, JD/MA, CPA, is the Chair of the Compensation Planning & Employee Benefits Group at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. She advises public, private and tax-exempt employers on plan design, administration and compliance for retirement plans, health and welfare plans, ESOPs and executive compensation programs. Debra frequently speaks on employee benefits law and is admitted to the Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota Bars. She earned her law degree with the highest distinction from the University of Iowa.
Rachel Rafik
Grant Thornton LLP
Oklahoma City, OK
Rachel Rafik is a Managing Director and Center for Excellence Leader for Employee Benefit Plan Audits at Grant Thornton, with over 18 years of experience in the EBP industry. She manages complex benefit plan audits nationwide, including defined contribution, defined benefit and ESOPs. Rachel leads Grant Thornton’s Employee Benefit Plan SOC 1 project and plays a key role in developing national training programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Central Oklahoma.
on the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Expert Panel and contributes to key industry guidance updates.
Maria Schwingler, CPA
Eide Bailly LLP
Minneapolis, MN
Maria Schwingler, CPA, regional assurance practice leader in the assurance department at Eide Bailly LLP, brings deep experience in employee benefit plan audits. Maria has served as Eide Bailly’s employee benefit plan audit practice leader for six years and was the firm’s designated audit partner with the AICPA’s EBP Audit Quality Center. In this role, she has led the firm’s internal benefit plan inspection process and participated in peer review teams to help ensure audit quality in employee benefit plan engagements. She has extensive experience serving employee benefit plans, with particular expertise in 403(b) plans and the regulatory, operational and governance challenges they present. Maria partners closely with plan administrators, boards and internal finance and HR teams to address evolving regulatory expectations and operational needs.
Tackle employee benefit plans with confidence at the MNCPA Audits of Employee Benefit Plans Conference. Dive into case studies on audit pitfalls to avoid common mistakes and apply practical solutions. Gain a deeper understanding of ESOPs and how they differ from typical 401(k) audits. Learn about the various types of audits and identify the tripping points to navigate challenges effectively. Choose your ideal way to attend — either in-person or via livestream.
Designed for: CPAs, auditors and other financial professionals who are responsible for auditing employee benefit plans
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Prep: None
Level: Update
8 CPE
| Schedule: | |
| Time | Session |
| 8 - 9:20 a.m. | A1. Department of Labor Update Jennifer Keim, US Department of Labor Stay ahead of the evolving regulatory landscape with a direct look into current activities within the Department of Labor’s Office of the Chief Accountant. Gain practical insight into how ongoing initiatives may influence your upcoming audit season and what steps you can take to ensure compliance. Explore the most common audit deficiencies and learn how to strengthen audit quality while better supporting clients who receive enforcement correspondence. Walk away with timely, actionable guidance straight from the DOL to enhance your effectiveness as an EBP auditor. NASBA FOS: Auditing-Technical (1.5) |
| 9:20 - 9:35 a.m. | Break |
| 9:35 - 10:25 a.m. | B1. Common Plan Errors and Current Correction Guidance Deb Linder, Fredrikson & Byron Marjorie Heap, Eide Bailly Explore the latest IRS and DOL guidance shaping today’s retirement plan correction landscape. Gain clarity on how common plan administration errors occur, how they’re typically identified and the compliant options available for resolving them. You’ll walk away with a stronger understanding of correction pathways and greater confidence in guiding clients and evaluating plan issues. NASBA FOS: Auditing-Technical (1.0) |
| 10:25 - 10:40 a.m. | Break |
| 10:40 - 11:55 a.m. | C1. Best Practices and Efficiencies in ERISA Audits Randy Dummer, HHM PLLC Elevate audit quality while improving efficiency by exploring proven practices used in successful ERISA engagements. Learn what peer reviewers consistently look for, where firms commonly stumble and how to streamline work without increasing risk. Through a reviewer’s lens, uncover practical steps that strengthen documentation, support compliance and reduce the likelihood of issues in your next peer review. Walk away with strategies you can implement immediately to enhance both quality and workflow. NASBA FOS: Auditing-Technical (1.5) |
| 11:55 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:40 - 1:30 p.m. | D1. Navigating 403(b) Plans: From Basics to Compliance Realities Maria Schwingler, Eide Bailly 403(b) plans may look familiar, but their ERISA status, operational nuances and compliance rules can create unexpected risk for sponsors and practitioners. Explore how these plans evolved, what truly distinguishes them from 401(k)s and where real world compliance pressure points tend to emerge. Gain a clearer framework for evaluating ERISA vs. non ERISA status and spotting common plan design and administration issues. Walk away with practical insight to strengthen audit, governance and regulatory readiness. NASBA FOS: Auditing-Technical (1.0) |
| 1:30 - 1:45 p.m. | Break |
| 1:45 - 3 p.m. | E1. Audit Foundations for Benefit Plans: Controls, Risk and SOC 1 Understanding Rachel Rafik, Grant Thornton Erin Griswold, Grant Thornton Build a strong foundation in the core elements that drive high quality employee benefit plan audits. Explore how internal controls, thoughtful risk assessment and SOC 1 reporting work together to support clearer documentation, better judgment and more reliable audit conclusions. Gain practical insight that helps staff move beyond basic checklists and develop confidence in evaluating processes and identifying real risks. Leave with a clearer framework you can apply immediately to strengthen audit quality. NASBA FOS: Auditing-Technical (1.5) |
| 3 - 3:15 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. | F1. Panel Discussion: Ask the Experts Jennifer Keim, DOL Randy Dummer, HHM PLLC Rachel Rafik, Grant Thornton Marjorie Heap, Eide Bailly, moderator Experts share their insights on the latest developments, common pitfalls and best practices in auditing employee benefit plans. Gain practical strategies for addressing regulatory updates, improving audit quality and mitigating risk. Whether you’re an experienced auditor or new to the field, gain valuable perspectives to help you stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape. NASBA FOS: Auditing-Technical (1.5) |
Speakers:
Randy Dummer, CPA
Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough PLLC
Chattanooga, TN
Randy Dummer, CPA, quality control partner in the accounting and assurance department at Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough (HHM), joined the firm in 2011 and leads key initiatives including the peer review practice and employee benefit plan audit niche. Randy is a nationally recognized employee benefit plan audit specialist and serves as a discussion leader for the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), earning the AICPA Outstanding Discussion Leader Award eight times. He instructs the Audits of 401(k) Plans webcast and teaches employee benefit plan audit courses. Randy serves as audit partner for 401(k), 403(b), ESOP, defined benefit pension and health and welfare plan audits. As captain for approximately 50 peer reviews each year, Randy helps CPA firms strengthen accounting, auditing and attestation quality. He serves on the peer review committee of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants and is an approved ERISA audit subject matter expert for the AICPA enhanced oversight project.
Erin Griswold
Grant Thornton LLP
Salt Lake City, UT
Erin Griswold, CPA, manager in the employee benefit plan practice at Grant Thornton, began her public accounting career in 2013 and has specialized exclusively in benefit plan audits since 2019. Erin has been a dedicated member of Grant Thornton’s employee benefit plan audit practice for the past four years, managing a broad range of defined contribution, defined benefit, health and welfare and employee stock ownership plans. She serves as lead manager for the firm’s employee benefit plan SOC 1 initiative, overseeing reviews of major service providers and developing key audit documentation used firmwide. Erin also supports the onboarding of new benefit plan clients, including documenting internal controls at both the entity and service provider levels.
Marjorie Heap, CPA
Eide Bailly LLP
Minneapolis, MN
Marjorie H. Heap, CPA, a senior manager with Eide Bailly, LLP, has experience in all phases of employee benefit plan engagements including planning, execution and quality control. In addition, she has a wide variety of public accounting experience covering all levels of financial statement service across several industries, developing and teaching training programs, and involvement in various levels of firm quality control.
Jennifer Keim, CPA, CEBS
U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Keim, CPA, CEBS, senior auditor at the Office of the Chief Accountant at EBSA, brings more than 16 years of public accounting experience focused on employee benefit plan audits. Prior to joining EBSA, Jennifer spent 16 years in public accounting, primarily auditing employee benefit plans. She specializes in compliance audits for 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit and money purchase plans. Jennifer has reviewed audit workpapers, advised engagement teams and contributed to continuing education programs on GAAP, GAAS and DOL and IRS regulations. She has spent the past eight years with the Office of the Chief Accountant.
Debra Linder, JD/MA, CPA
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Minneapolis, MN
Debra J. Linder, JD/MA, CPA, is the Chair of the Compensation Planning & Employee Benefits Group at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. She advises public, private and tax-exempt employers on plan design, administration and compliance for retirement plans, health and welfare plans, ESOPs and executive compensation programs. Debra frequently speaks on employee benefits law and is admitted to the Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota Bars. She earned her law degree with the highest distinction from the University of Iowa.
Rachel Rafik
Grant Thornton LLP
Oklahoma City, OK
Rachel Rafik is a Managing Director and Center for Excellence Leader for Employee Benefit Plan Audits at Grant Thornton, with over 18 years of experience in the EBP industry. She manages complex benefit plan audits nationwide, including defined contribution, defined benefit and ESOPs. Rachel leads Grant Thornton’s Employee Benefit Plan SOC 1 project and plays a key role in developing national training programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Central Oklahoma.
on the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Expert Panel and contributes to key industry guidance updates.
Maria Schwingler, CPA
Eide Bailly LLP
Minneapolis, MN
Maria Schwingler, CPA, regional assurance practice leader in the assurance department at Eide Bailly LLP, brings deep experience in employee benefit plan audits. Maria has served as Eide Bailly’s employee benefit plan audit practice leader for six years and was the firm’s designated audit partner with the AICPA’s EBP Audit Quality Center. In this role, she has led the firm’s internal benefit plan inspection process and participated in peer review teams to help ensure audit quality in employee benefit plan engagements. She has extensive experience serving employee benefit plans, with particular expertise in 403(b) plans and the regulatory, operational and governance challenges they present. Maria partners closely with plan administrators, boards and internal finance and HR teams to address evolving regulatory expectations and operational needs.
