James E. Brown

James E. Brown, CPA, CGFM Member, Governmental Accounting Standards Board/Norwalk, Connecticut Retired Partner, BKD, LLP/ Springfield, Missouri Mr. Brown's career spans first over 40 years in public accounting with a large regional firm and now as a member of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Jim was appointed to a five-year term as a member of the GASB commencing in July 2013. The GASB is responsible for establishing and maintaining generally accepted accounting principles for external financial reporting by state, tribal and local governments in the United States. Jim was an audit engagement partner and Accounting and Auditing Director in BKD offices in Joplin, MO from 1984 to 1998 and Springfield, MO from 1998 to 2003. He was a partner in the Quality Control Department of BKD's National Office from 2003 until his retirement in May 2011. His responsibilities included: Concurring review of audit and attestation engagements - Consultation on complex accounting and auditing matters - Development and maintenance of quality control materials - Lead quality control partner for government and non-for-profit organizations practice, and SEC practice - Authoring guidance to the firm's personnel on new and existing Professional standards and related firm policies and procedures - Lead developer and instructor for firm SEC and government and for not-for-profit organizations training - Instructor for other firm accounting and auditing training - Preparation for peer reviews and PCAOB inspections - Development, implementation and training leader on risk-assessment suite of auditing standards, integrated audits under PCAOB and AICPA standards, and single audits under 0MB Circular A-I 33. A member of the AICPA and Missouri Society of CPAs, Jim served on the AICPA's Auditing Standards Board and its Audit Issues, Compliance Attestation (Chair), Agreed-Upon Procedures (Chair), and various other task forces; the AICPA Board of Examiners and its Auditing and Grading Subcommittees (Chair); and the Reporting Model (GASB 34/35), Derivatives, and various other task forces and expert panels of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. He has been a conference speaker and CPE instructor for the AICPA, state CPA societies, and other CPA firms, and has taught numerous university accounting and auditing classes.