An expanded role for actuaries in the new Model Audit Rule

Several key drivers of the recent financial crisis were also prevalent in the tumult leading to the creation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) eight years ago, including a lack of corporate transparency and a rash of high-profile bankruptcies. This year, many SOX-like public disclosure rules will take effect for non-publicly traded insurance companies. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is strengthening its standards for financial solvency and internal controls through its revised Annual Financial Reporting Model Regulation, more commonly known as the Model Audit Rule (MAR). The implementation of the MAR in 2010 will provide a valuable opportunity for insurers to assess the effectiveness of their internal controls and the accuracy of their financial reporting. The article appears on p. 18 of this downloadable PDF of the Interpreter.