[LoveEventing]

Just curious if anyone specializes in benefit plan auditing and input on doing this as a career path in public accounting. It may not be the most glamorous side of auditing, but seems to offer better work/life balance while still being able to work in public. Thoughts?

BEC - 68, 76
AUD - 90, 91
FAR - 63, 83
REG - 55, 79

FINALLY DONE!

[NYIACCT89]

I audit alot of employee benefit plans (mostly 401 (k), 403 (b) and defined contribution plans). I'm not sure if the work/life balance is much different. All plans that are required to be audited (which is generally 100 or more participants) need to have the independent auditor's report attached to the plan's Form 5500 when submitted to the Department of Labor. This creates a pretty big deadline when most of the plans you audit run on the same fiscal year.

So like all other audits, there is a busy time. However, the audit work done is very different from other audits which is a nice change (especially when the audits are limited scope). Alot of testing is done to make sure the plan is compliance with the Department of Labor.

FAR - 7/1/13 - 98
AUD - 8/31/13 - 94
BEC - 11/23/13 - 89
REG - 1/13/14 - 86

Study Materials:
Becker - Online Course and Flash Cards

[NYIACCT89]

I audit alot of employee benefit plans (mostly 401 (k), 403 (b) and defined contribution plans). I'm not sure if the work/life balance is much different. All plans that are required to be audited (which is generally 100 or more participants) need to have the independent auditor's report attached to the plan's Form 5500 when submitted to the Department of Labor. This creates a pretty big deadline when most of the plans you audit run on the same fiscal year.

So like all other audits, there is a busy time. However, the audit work done is very different from other audits which is a nice change (especially when the audits are limited scope). Alot of testing is done to make sure the plan is compliance with the Department of Labor.

FAR - 7/1/13 - 98
AUD - 8/31/13 - 94
BEC - 11/23/13 - 89
REG - 1/13/14 - 86

Study Materials:
Becker - Online Course and Flash Cards

[Anonymous]

I did 9-10 401(k) Plan audits in addition to non-public company audits. Almost all of them were year end audits so they were due 7/31 or 10/15 (?) if extended. The one that wasn't on year-end was a pain in the neck because a lot of the testing was based on tying to the Form 5500…

I always looked at 401(k) audits as a nice way to have work during the summer.

[Anonymous]

I did 9-10 401(k) Plan audits in addition to non-public company audits. Almost all of them were year end audits so they were due 7/31 or 10/15 (?) if extended. The one that wasn't on year-end was a pain in the neck because a lot of the testing was based on tying to the Form 5500…

I always looked at 401(k) audits as a nice way to have work during the summer.

[Author]

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