When Consistent Quality and Convenience Matters
The role of a plan administrator comes with great responsibility as the complexity of employee benefit plans requires businesses to follow extensive accounting and regulation changes that may impact benefit plans. With the passing of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Federal law established reporting and disclosure standards for employee benefit plans. The ability to partner with a trusted advisor to ensure compliance with Federal regulations is more important than ever.
With Withum as your partner, you can expect timely, smart solutions that tackle the difficult challenges businesses like yours face when it comes to employee benefit and pension plans in today’s landscape.
Withum’s Employee Benefits and Pension Plan Team offers assistance with a variety of employee benefit and pension plan accounting, audit, tax and advisory services. Companies choose Withum for our experience and expertise with employee benefit plan audits, providing accounting and auditing services to new and established 401(k), 403(b), employee stock ownership plans (ESOP), pension, profit sharing and health and welfare plans ranging in size and scope from 100 to 500,000 participants. We’re able to effectively address your needs in an efficient manner through our diverse plan experience based on size and type, and our relationships with a wide variety of custodians and third-party administrators (TPAs). This creates an approach that is cost-effective and maintains timely compliance.
Our background and expertise allow us to understand the critical issues impacting the industry and help you achieve your plan objectives. A consistent, focused approach results in less delays and more value for your business.
Retirement Plan Services
Today’s 401(k), 403(b) and other defined-contribution plans face many challenges for compliance with rules established by ERISA and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). A company’s failure to meet DOL compliance requirements could result in significant penalties. Further, certain plans of publicly traded companies have an increased requirement to file their financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Withum’s approach helps companies meet their audit requirements in an efficient and compliant manner. Aside from the typical audit of a plan’s financial statements, our Employee Benefits and Pension Plan team members review the requirements in a holistic manner, including reviews of audit engagement requirements such as:
- Participant eligibility
- Participant and employer contributions
- Timeliness of deposit requirements
- Plan distributions
- Participant loans
- Participant data
Defined Benefit Plan Services
Defined benefit plans must meet many requirements for compliance with rules established by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). A company’s failure to meet these DOL compliance requirements could result in significant penalties. Further, companies need to consider the cash flow requirements related to funding this type of plan.
Withum’s team can assist with eliminating potential costly penalties and ensure both accurate and timely reporting. Through our experience with defined benefit plans, our Employee Benefit and Pension Plan team members have found that utilizing an educational approach helps businesses improve their internal controls associated with defined benefit plans. Aside from the typical audit of a plan’s financial statements, our team also provides observations regarding controls and reviews and other matters. Results such as these observations, along with any other relevant findings, are discussed with appropriate management with timeliness and insight. These proactive discussions assist management in achieving better oversight of their plans, and in the long run, provide value to the business.
Specialized Services
Audit Support Services
A collaborative team working in concert with your outside auditor, TPA, investment advisor and internal staff can ensure that you are meeting your reporting and compliance requirements.
Form 11-k Audit Services
Public companies with Form 11-k filing requirements need a PCAOB registered firm well-versed in staying on top of critical SEC deadlines and additional audit requirements.
Health and Welfare Plans
Understanding all aspects of your health and welfare plan needs are critical to meeting DOL compliance challenges.
Multiemployer Benefit Plans
A successful multiemployer benefit plan requires complex compliance needs and a dedicated team of professionals focused on serving the multiemployer industry.
Voluntary Correction Program Consulting
To ensure employers are compliant, the Department of Labor has increased the focus on plans sponsor’s records.
Specialized Training and Education
Rules and regulations change on a regular basis – and to stay on top of those changes, our specialists stay current on their knowledge of regulatory changes and fiduciary issues impacting clients through intense annual training sessions. In order to conduct our plan audits, team members attend vigorous training including sessions focused on new industry developments affecting the employee benefit plan industry and reinforcement of any new regulatory changes that occur. The combination of extensive staff training and focused communications of new developments within the employee benefit and pension place space ensures that each team member has the requisite training to perform quality employee benefit plan audits. Withum's Employee Benefit and Pension Plan Team is an active member of national centers of influence and registered with the following oversight boards.
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