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In consultation with the independent auditors, management and the internal auditors, review the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting processes, both internal and external. In connection therewith, the Committee should obtain and discuss with management and the independent auditors’ reports from management and the independent auditors regarding: (1) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used by the Company; (2) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent auditors setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including all significant alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with the Company’s management, the ramifications of the use of the alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor; (3) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles; (4) major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any specific audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and (5) any other material written communications between the independent auditors and the Company’s management;
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Review significant accounting and reporting issues, including recent professional and regulatory pronouncements, off-balance sheet structures and complex and unusual transactions, and understand their impact on the financial statements of the Company; and
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Review with the independent auditors: (1) any audit problems or other difficulties encountered by the independent auditors in the course of the audit process, including any restrictions on the scope of the independent auditors’ activities or on access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management and (2) management’s responses to such matters. Without excluding other possibilities, the Committee may wish to review with the independent auditors (3) any accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the auditors but were “passed” (as immaterial or otherwise), (4) significant consultation, on matters that otherwise are required to be disclosed to the Committee, made with the independent auditors’ national office, and (5) any “management” or “internal control” letter issued, or proposed to be issued, by the independent auditors to the Company.
Annual and Quarterly Financial Statements
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Review with management and the independent auditors prior to public dissemination the Company’s annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements, including the Company’s specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”;
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Discuss with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
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Discuss with management and the independent auditors the Company’s earnings press releases (paying particular attention to the use of any “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information), as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. The Committee’s discussion in this regard may be general in nature (i.e., discussion of the types of information to be disclosed and the type of presentation to be made) and need not take place in advance of each earnings release or each instance in which the Company may provide earnings guidance; and
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Review management’s explanations of any identified differences not recorded.