Guidance on Current and Emerging Issues Top Agenda At 2010 ParenteBeard Audit Committee Forum

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 160 members of corporate boards, audit committees and senior management executives gathered December 1 in King of Prussia, PA for the 2010 Audit Committee Forum, sponsored by ParenteBeard LLC.  

The Forum's goal was to address some of the most pressing challenges facing audit committees today, such as increased compliance duties, potential liability, and responsibility for the oversight of financial risk. The inaugural event provided attendees with the latest strategies for strengthening financial expertise and responding to the demand for greater oversight.

As ParenteBeard Chief Executive Officer, Bob Ciaruffoli, noted, "ParenteBeard is focused on high quality financial reporting and the effective functioning of audit committees.  In this era of enhanced scrutiny, audit committees and their members require appropriate guidance and broad skills to be effective directors.  Events like the Forum demonstrate our firm's commitment to providing this support.  "

The Forum featured a deep and broad lineup of presenters and topics:

• Philip J. Santarelli, ParenteBeard Chief Risk Officer, who provided a Financial Accounting Standards Board/Technical Update;
• John Gambale, Chartis Insurance, President, Private Company and Non-profit Division of Executive Liability, who delivered a Management Liability Update;
• Audit Committee Best Practices Panel, moderated by ParenteBeard Partner and Senior Living Services Audit Practice Leader, Mark Ross, with panelists Edward Noble, CPA, Partner in Charge, Noble & Noble; Joanne Judge, Shareholder, Stevens & Lee; Linda Eremita, Managing Director, M&T Investment Banking Group; Terry Lehman, retired Partner, ParenteBeard LLC; and Joseph Kluger, Esquire, Principal and Managing Shareholder, Corporate & Commercial Practice, Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn, PC;
• Mary Meyers, ParenteBeard Partner and Practice Leader, Corporate Governance and Risk Management practice, who addressed enterprise wide risk management.

"Audit committees maximize their productivity by addressing their substantial workload and adding greater value both to the board and to the company as a whole.  The 2010 Audit Committee Forum was an important channel for ParenteBeard to offer the most up-to-date and substantial technical, industry and business knowledge in this area, as we continue to deliver on our promise of Confidence through Clarity," commented Mr. Ciaruffoli.

Copies of the presentations are available by emailing [email protected].

About ParenteBeard

ParenteBeard is the Mid Atlantic's leading regional certified public accounting and business advisory firm with 1,000 employees serving middle market and small business clients across the region.  The 150 partner firm has offices located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware and Texas. The firm is ranked among the Top 25 firms in the USA and is an independent member of Baker Tilly International.

For more information, please visit ParenteBeard at www.parentebeard.com

SOURCE ParenteBeard LLC