Merklin of BMF Appointed to National Panel of Employee Benefit Plan Audit Experts

AKRON, Ohio (Sept. 10, 2009) – Bober Markey Fedorovich (BMF), a regional audit and accounting firm headquartered in Akron, Ohio, announces James E. Merklin, CPA, CFF, CFE, partner, has been appointed to the national Employee Benefit Plans Expert Panel (EP) of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).  The EP is a highly selective group comprising the top 12 audit and accounting experts from across the United States. The group deals with issues of importance to the employee benefit plan (EBP) audit industry.
 
Merklin is director of the firm’s EBP audit practice and has nearly 25 years of audit experience in working with benefit plans and their corporate sponsors.  This appointment recognizes his contributions to enhancing the audit and accounting for benefit plans.  As a member of the EP, Merklin will have direct involvement in modification of guidance that CPAs across the country use in conducting benefit plan audits. 
The objectives of the EP include:

  • Representing the public interest and members of the AICPA through liaison activities with various industry groups and regulators
  • Identifying financial reporting and auditing issues, and working with various bodies toward resolutions
  • Advising and assisting in the development of AICPA products and services relating to the employee benefit plans industry.

Merklin also serves as a member of the AICPA’s 403(b) Plan Task Force and is just finishing up his third term as a member of the AICPA’s Employee Benefit Plans Audit Quality Center Executive Committee. He also chairs the EBP Committee for PKF North American Network.  As well, he serves on the EBP Conference planning committee for the Ohio Society of CPAs and is a frequent speaker at local and national presentations.  He is scheduled to present Fraud in the Current Economy at the AICPA’s EBP conference in December in Washington D.C.

Bober Markey Fedorovich conducts an extensive number of benefit plan audits for both smaller companies as well as Fortune 100 companies. 

Founded in 1959, Bober Markey Fedorovich is one of the largest independent CPA and business advisory firms in northeast Ohio with national and international reach, primarily serving greater Akron, Cleveland and surrounding regions. Its clients span a variety of industries, many with multi-state and global operations. The firm specializes in accounting, audit, tax services, litigation support, valuation and transaction advisory, with focus on private equity, privately held business and SEC companies.

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