EBP audit quality matters: Common misconceptions and how to correct them

CPA, CEBS

Jennifer Keim is a Senior Auditor within the Office of the Chief Accountant at the DOL. Prior to joining the DOL, she worked in public accounting for 16 years, primarily auditing employee benefit plans. She has experience with 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, pension plans and SEC Form 1-k filing requirements. In addition, being a CPA, Jennifer has also attained the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation.

CPA

EXPERIENCE I am Plante Moran’s Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) Technical Leader, responsible for the technical quality assurance of the firm’s benefit plan audit practice. I oversee all technical aspects of the practice, including addressing emerging accounting, auditing and compliance issues. As the EBP Technical Leader, I am ultimately responsible for new standard implementation, staff training, client education and oversight of all the employee benefit plan audit reports the firm issues. With 20 years of experience in public accounting, I collaborate with both internal teams and clients, particularly on complex issues, to uphold high-quality standards and develop solutions to accounting, auditing and compliance issues that satisfy all parties. In my role, I have helped develop our firm’s approach to efficiently and effectively audit benefit plans which has contributed to Plante Moran’s national benefit plan audit practice. Plante Moran is one the top 10 largest benefit plan auditors in the nation, auditing over 1,600 plans and $175 billion in assets a year. Many of these plans are sponsored by private companies. The plans audited range from under $1 million to over $6 billion, and covers every type of plan, including church and tribal plans. The diversity of our practice provides me with a unique perspective of the reporting and auditing challenges and needs of the different EBP segments (mega, large, medium and small plans). I lead a team of 20 professional who are responsible for pre-issuance quality control reviews on employee benefit plan financial statements, central reviews of SOC-1 reports, and supporting our team of 450 benefit plan auditors. I also lead Plante Moran’s six-member National Independence Leadership Team. The National Independence Leadership Team addresses firm-wide independence matters and is responsible for monitoring and providing guidance on independence issues. My diverse background in working with assurance clients in the for-profit, not-for-profit and governmental industries has provided me with variety of opportunities to consult on independence matters. EDUCATION Northwood University – Bachelor of Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude - 2001