Chris Etheridge joined Frazier & Deeter, LLC in 1989. He is a partner in the accounting and assurance department. In addition to accounting and assurance services, he provides litigation support, tax and financial analysis services for closely held businesses.
Chris works with clients in a variety of industries including nonprofit services, manufacturing, distribution, real estate, construction, technology, and retail industries.
Chris is the Partner in Charge of the Employee Benefits Services Group of Frazier & Deeter. His areas of expertise include employee benefit plan audits as well as regulatory and tax compliance. He oversees the Employee Benefits Services Group which includes dedicated employee benefit professionals who can assist in all areas from plan audits to actual design of comprehensive employee benefit packages. The Group audits qualified defined contribution, defined benefit, and health and welfare plans, as well as having extensive experience auditing plans required to file an annual 11-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
He has earned the designations of Certified Fraud Examiner, CFE, from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. This designation is awarded to select professionals responsible for detecting, deterring and investigating fraud and white collar crime.
He also serves as a technical reviewer for the firm's accounting and assurance practice. As a result of his extensive experience, other public accounting firms hire him to perform a peer review of their CPA practices. He currently sits as a member of the Georgia Society of CPA's Peer Review Committee and is the past Chair of the Executive Committee. In those duties, he is responsible for overseeing the peer review process and compliance for the member firms in the State of Georgia.
Publications, Speaking Engagements and Webinars
Journal of Pension Benefits – Audit 101 Series – A Guide to Employee Benefit Plan Audits -
Selecting the Right Auditor; Audit Planning; Audit Fieldwork; Audit Wrap Up; Fraud Risk Factors;
401(k) Advisor – Is Your Pension Plan Audited Correctly? Is Your Auditor Really Qualified?
ASPPA/WEB – “Form 5500 and the Audit”, and “Ask the Audit Experts”
Webinars - Plan Ratings and the Financial Statement Audit; Developing Relationships with CPA’s and Service Providers;
Pain Points as it relates to Retirement