RALEIGH, N.C. (December 8, 2011) – Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (www.hpg.com), one of the largest CPA firms headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, announces today that firm partner J. Mark Livingston was a featured speaker at the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS) Business Officers Conference in Wilmington, N.C. Livingston’s presentation focused on 403(b) retirement plans, including audit filing requirements, U.S. Department of Labor resources and best-practice recommendations based on past audits.

Livingston joined Craig Wheaton and Caryn McNeill, partners at Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP, for the presentation. This is the second time the trio has collaborated; they also presented at the 4th Annual Carolinas Chapter of the ESOP Association Conference in August.

"Mark offered helpful insights on lessons learned from the initial round of 403(b) audits after new rules took effect in 2009," says McNeill.

The NCAIS is a non-profit organization comprised of independent elementary and secondary schools in the state. The conference focused on school policies, procedures, strategic decision-making and risk management.

Livingston has 28 years of public accounting experience serving growth companies and their owners. He has been a partner at HPG for 10 years and is the firm’s designated audit partner on file with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center. In addition, he serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and co-leads the ERISA audit team and the Manufacturing and Distribution practice group. Livingston is certified in production and inventory management by the Association for Operations Management. With this expertise, he is able to assist clients in production and inventory planning, cost accounting and business process improvement.

About Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (HPG):

HPG is one of the largest CPA firms headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, as ranked by the Triangle Business Journal. More than just an accounting firm, HPG assists clients in looking beyond the bottom linesm by being the right people, right value and right firmsm to achieve each client's definition of success. HPG is a member of CPAmerica International and affiliated with the Crowe Horwath International alliances of firms, with offices worldwide. The firm leverages this to provide national and global accounting resources to its clients. HPG offers a wide array of business accounting, auditing, corporate tax and management advisory services. Specialties include serving owner-managed, investor-backed technology and life science organizations, healthcare services, real estate development, manufacturing and distribution businesses, as well as providing ERISA audits, family wealthcare services and Sarbanes-Oxley internal audit services.

HPG has remained committed to advancing a thriving Triangle community since its founding in 1983. In recognition, the firm is the recipient of two Pinnacle Business Awards by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce: the 2009 Large Entrepreneurial Business Award and the 2010 Integrity in Business Award. Additionally, HPG has been certified Green Plus by the Institute for Sustainable Development for integrating environmental sustainability efforts into company culture, and has been named one of the top 100 Best Accounting Firms to Work For in the country by Accounting Today. Visit www.hpg.com for more information.

About the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools:

The North Carolina Association of Independent Schools was incorporated in 1970 as a voluntary, nonprofit organization of independent elementary and secondary schools located throughout North Carolina. Today it includes more than 80 schools and 3,500 teachers serving approximately 35,000 students. The association encourages communication among member schools, fosters the traditional freedom of the independent school to practice its philosophy of education, and serves as a liaison with regional and national accrediting agencies, and the National Association of Independent Schools. NCAIS schools do not discriminate in their admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, educational policies, and athletic and other school administered programs. NCAIS provides numerous educational and professional development opportunities for school administrators, teachers, trustees, parents and students. Visit www.ncais.org for more information.

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