Work papers are the records kept by the independent certified public accountant of the procedures followed, the tests performed, the information obtained and the conclusion reached pertinent to his examination of the financial statements of an insurer. Work papers, accordingly, may include audit planning documentation, work programs, analyses, memoranda, letters of confirmation and representation, abstracts of company documents and schedules or commentaries prepared or obtained by the independent certified public accountant in the course of his examination of the financial statements of an insurer and which support his opinion thereof.
Every insurer required to file an audited financial report pursuant to Sections 83-5-101 through 83-5-113 shall require the accountant to make available for review by department examiners all work papers prepared in the conduct of his examination and any communications related to the audit between the accountant and the insurer, at the offices of the insurer, at the Department of Insurance or at any other reasonable place designated by the commissioner. The insurer shall require that the accountant retain the audit work papers and communications until the Department of Insurance has filed a report on examination covering the period of the audit, but no longer than seven (7) years from the date of the audit report.
In the conduct of the aforementioned periodic review by the department examiners, it shall be agreed that photocopies of pertinent audit work papers may be made and retained by the department. Such reviews by the department examiners shall be considered investigations and all work papers and communications obtained during the course of such investigations shall be afforded the same confidentiality as other examination work papers generated by the department.
Structure Mississippi Code
Chapter 5 - General Provisions Relative to Insurance and Insurance Companies
Article 2 - Audit of Financial Statements of Insurers
§ 83-5-101. Audited financial report
§ 83-5-103. Content of annual audited financial report
§ 83-5-106. Designation of independent certified public accountants
§ 83-5-107. Qualifications of independent certified public accountant
§ 83-5-108. Consolidated or combined audits
§ 83-5-109. Scope of examination and report of independent certified public accountant
§ 83-5-110. Notification of adverse financial condition
§ 83-5-111. Report on significant deficiencies in internal controls
§ 83-5-112. Accountant's letter of qualifications
§ 83-5-113. Definition, availability and maintenance of certified public accountant work papers
§ 83-5-119. Requirements for audit committees
§ 83-5-120. Internal audit function requirements
§ 83-5-123. Management's report of internal control over financial reporting