The Forum's Annual Accounting Series

Each fall, the Forum, in conjunction with the "Big Four" accounting firms, presents a series of programs designed to help fund directors understand their responsibilities for financial oversight of their funds, and keep them up to date on current and emerging financial topics.  The series features two distinct programs, one basic and comprehensive, and one more advanced covering specific and sophisticated financial reporting issues.  The number of registrants is limited for each course, and their small size makes these programs intimate, conversational, and interactive, while spending time on the topics most interesting to the directors.  Also, because the courses are taught by the top financial, accounting, and auditing professionals in the industry, directors take away the most current practical guidance, useful right away in the boardroom. 

The basic course, "Mutual Fund  Accounting and Financial Oversight: What Every Director Needs to Know," offers practical guidance to help in the basic understanding of directors' accounting oversight responsibilities.  The basic program is an excellent introduction to financial oversight for newer directors, and directors new to their boards' audit committees.   At the basic program, experts from the "Big Four" accounting firms  cover hot topics in the fund industry as they discuss:

• Audit committee responsibilities;
• Oversight of third party service providers;
• Tax issues;
• The internal control structure and environment;
• Financial reporting requirements;
• The annual audit; and
• The 15(c) Reporting Process.

This year, the basic program will be held in Washington, DC on October 5, hosted by KPMG LLP at their 2001 M Street offices, and will feature Gene Gohlke, Associate Director of the SEC's Office of Compliance, Inspections, and Examinations.  Mr. Gohlke will update attendees on the fund/adviser inspection program and where it will be going in fiscal 2010. 

The more advanced program, "Complex Financial Oversight Issues," provides more in-depth information about sophisticated accounting issues and emerging financial oversight issues confronting fund directors.  At the advanced accounting programs this year, experts from the "Big Four" accounting firms will discuss:

• Updates on FASB and SEC rules and pronouncements;
• Internal control and SEC compliance issues;
• Emerging financial disclosure and reporting issues for money market funds; and
• Valuation and pricing issues.

The advanced course will be offered in three cities on three separate dates. 

• October 15, 2009, Chicago, IL
  Hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP at their offices located at 1 North Wacker Drive, 14th Floor
  
  
• November 10, 2009, New York, NY
  Hosted by Ernst & Young, LLP at their offices located at 5 Times Square
  
  
• December 9 , 2009, Boston, MA
  Hosted by Deloitte & Touche, LLP at their offices located at 200 Berkeley Street 

To learn more about this series of programs, to download a brochure, or to register, please visit the Accounting Series page on  Forum's website at:  http://www.mfdf.com/AccountingPrograms2009.html