If you’ve been through an Employee Benefit Plan audit before, you already know the drill: endless back-and-forth, repeated document requests, and 10–20+ hours of your team’s time tied up answering questions.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. PriceKubecka has completely reengineered the EBP audit experience with a process that will limit your total time investment to 5 hours or less—without cutting corners, and without sacrificing audit quality.
Here’s how.
We Eliminate Back-and-Forth Before It Starts
Most audit pain comes from disorganized requests and constant follow-ups. We fix that upfront.
- You complete a quick questionnaire and engagement letter online
- Then we run a structured 90-minute kickoff call to gather everything we need in one shot
- We set expectations, collect key details, and secure system access immediately
Result: No drip-by-drip requests. No confusion. No wasted time.
We Go Straight to the Source (Not You)
Instead of relying on you to track down documents, we work directly with your providers.
- We pull data from recordkeepers, payroll systems, and plan documents
- We import everything into our audit platform ourselves
Result: You’re not stuck playing middleman between your auditor and your vendors.
We Front-Load the Heavy Lifting
Traditional firms spread work across weeks, creating constant interruptions. Not us
- We gather documents early and resolve most requests upfront.
- Then we perform full-population testing and data analytics behind the scenes.
Result: Minimal follow-up questions later = less disruption for you.
We Replace Endless Emails with Two Focused Conversations
Instead of dragging you through weeks of emails, we consolidate communication into just a couple key touchpoints:
- Kickoff Call (90 minutes) to set everything up
- Audit Results Discussion (1 hour): Walk through initial findings, determine if any corrections should be made, and request any open items.
Everything else happens without you.
Result: Clear, efficient communication without constant interruptions.
Once we have what we need, your involvement drops off significantly.
- Sample testing (participants, contributions, loa
We Only Bring You Back In for What Actually Matters
Your final involvement is limited to:
- Reviewing drafts
- Signing the management representation letter
- Addressing any necessary corrections
That’s it.
The Bottom Line
Most firms require 10–20+ hours of your time because their process is reactive, manual, and unstructured. PriceKubecka’s EBP audit process is engineered differently.
- Structured upfront data collection
- Direct integration with your providers
- Full-population testing (not endless sampling cycles)
- Minimal, intentional touchpoints
That’s how we consistently keep your time to 5 hours or less without sacrificing quality.
See How Little Time Your EBP Audit Should Take
Schedule a quick call and we’ll walk you through exactly how we can complete your audit in under 5 hours of your time—no surprises, no back-and-forth, no wasted effort.
👉 Book Your Audit Strategy Call
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an EBP audit take for plan sponsors?
Most Employee Benefit Plan audits require 10–20+ hours of a plan sponsor’s time due to repeated document requests and back-and-forth communication. However, firms with a structured, data-driven process can reduce that time to 5 hours or less by handling data collection, testing, and coordination internally.
Why do some 401(k) audits take so much time from plan sponsors?
401(k) audits become time-consuming when auditors:
- Request documents in multiple rounds
- Rely on the plan sponsor to gather data from providers
- Use inefficient sampling methods
- Lack a clear, upfront process
These inefficiencies create constant interruptions and significantly increase the time burden on your team.
How can a CPA firm reduce the time required for an EBP audit?
A CPA firm can minimize plan sponsor involvement by:
- Collecting data directly from recordkeepers and payroll providers
- Using standardized, upfront document requests
- Performing full-population testing and data analytics
- Limiting communication to key milestone meetings
This approach eliminates unnecessary back-and-forth and keeps the audit moving efficiently.
What information does a plan sponsor actually need to provide during an EBP audit?
In a streamlined Employee Benefit Plan audit, plan sponsors typically only need to:
- Complete an initial questionnaire
- Participate in a kickoff call
- Provide access to systems (e.g., recordkeeper, payroll)
- Review final audit documents and sign required letters
Everything else—testing, data analysis, and follow-ups—is handled by the audit team.
Is a faster 401(k) audit less thorough or lower quality?
No—when done correctly, a faster audit is often more thorough, not less. Firms that use full-population testing, standardized workflows, and data analytics can identify issues more accurately than traditional sampling-based approaches. The key difference is efficiency—not reduced quality or compliance.
