§ 58-10-205.  Designation of independent certified public accountant.

(a) Each insurer required by this Part to file an annual audited financial report must, within 60 days after becoming subject to the requirement, register with the Commissioner in writing the name and address of the independent certified public accountant or accounting firm retained to conduct the annual audit. Insurers not retaining an independent certified public accountant on July 31, 2009, shall register the name and address of their retained independent certified public accountant not less than six months before the date when the first audited financial report is to be filed.

(b) The insurer shall obtain a letter from the accountant and file a copy with the Commissioner stating that the accountant is aware of the provisions of the insurance laws and the regulations of the State of North Carolina that relate to accounting and financial matters and affirming that the accountant will express his or her opinion on the financial statement in terms of its conformity to the statutory accounting practices prescribed or otherwise permitted by the Commissioner, specifying such exceptions as he or she may believe appropriate.

(c) If an accountant for the immediately preceding filed audited financial report is dismissed or resigns, the insurer shall within five business days notify the Commissioner of this event. The insurer shall also furnish the Commissioner with a separate letter within 10 business days after the notification stating whether in the 24 months preceding such event there were any disagreements with the former accountant on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure; which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of the former accountant, would have caused him or her to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with his or her opinion. The disagreements required to be reported in response to this section include both those resolved to the former accountant's satisfaction and those not resolved to the former accountant's satisfaction. Disagreements contemplated by this section could include, but are not limited to, disagreements between personnel of the insurer responsible for presentation of its financial statements and personnel of the accounting firm responsible for rendering its report. The insurer shall also in writing request the former accountant to furnish a letter addressed to the insurer stating whether the accountant agrees with the statements contained in the insurer's letter and, if not, stating the reasons for which he or she does not agree; and the insurer shall furnish the responsive letter from the former accountant to the Commissioner together with its own. (2009-384, s. 1.)