AUDIT+CONSULTING SERVICES
Keep Your Employee Benefit Plan on Track.
Contact Us! 800.658.9700
Recent Insights
Three Things Plan Sponsors Can Do To Keep Their 401(k) Plan on Track
We have outlined three important items to help you keep your 401(k) plan in compliance with regulatory requirements and maintain its tax-qualified status. Read more>
Small Plan or Large Plan? Does My Plan Need an Audit?
A defined benefit or defined contribution plan (including 401(k)) is considered a “small plan” until the total number of eligible participants reaches 100. Read more>
Cybersecurity of Employee Benefit Plans
Here are six aspects to consider when establishing a cybersecurity risk management strategy. Read more>
The Importance of Timely Employee Deferral Remittances
Many plan sponsors overlook that they are required to remit participant contributions to the trust on the earliest date that they can be reasonably segregated from the plan sponsor’s general assets. Read more>How Can We Serve You?
At Hawkins Ash CPAs, we have built a team of skilled and experienced professional staff specializing in Employee Benefit Plan auditing in accordance with ERISA and DOL requirements. Hawkins Ash CPAs also provides comprehensive consulting services for your entire employee benefit package. We also prepare IRS Form 5500s along with related schedules and attachments.
Our audit team addresses issues, including:
- Proper valuation and recording of plan investments
- Eligibility and compensation are properly defined
- Compliance with ERISA and DOL regulations
- Payroll process and benefit internal controls
We seek to ensure:
- Contributions are consistent with participant elections and deposited in a timely manner
- Investment income and expenses are properly allocated
- Benefit payments are made in accordance with plan provisions
- Financial statements and supplemental schedules are properly presented
- Plan sponsors are aware of their fiduciary responsibilities
Expertise. Proven.
ERISA audit leaders at Hawkins Ash CPAs hold the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) Advanced Defined Contribution Plans Audit Certificate.
The certificate program was designed to show certificate awardees’ high level of competency and commitment to performing high-quality audits. Developed by leading experts and members of AICPA’s Employee Benefit Plans Audit Quality Center, the competency-based examination for certification tests one’s ability to plan, perform and evaluate employee benefit plan audits in accordance with the latest AICPA standards and Department of Labor and IRS requirements. The certificate acknowledges our ERISA audit team’s achievement by declaring their dedication to quality and distinguishes their knowledge and expertise in this area.
Our Firm is also a member of the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center. 
Contact an ERISA Auditor
Charlie Wendlandt, CPA
As a manager, Charlie’s responsibilities include planning, test of transactions and preparation of financial statements for ERISA audits. He co-chairs the firm’s employee benefit plan services group.
Erica Knerzer, CPA
Erica serves as the co-chair of the Employee Benefit Plan services group, focusing on the development of employee benefit plan audits and also works on audits of privately held organizations. Erica joined the firm in 2000 and is also a member of the firm’s Audit and Accounting Committee.
Randy Juedes, CPA
As partner-in-charge of the Hawkins Ash CPAs Medford, WI, office, Randy’s experience includes audits of commercial entities and employee benefit plans and individual and corporate taxation. He is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefit Plan Service Committee and Accounting and Audit Committee. He also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. He is the firm’s partner for the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center.
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