Dean Beddow, Senior Manager - Practice Quality, Audit Quality and Risk Management, Grant Thornton LLP to Speak at KC’s Event on SQCS No. 7 on 02/10/2009

New York, NY, December 19, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The Knowledge Congress, the leading producer of regulatory focused webinars announced today that Dean Beddow, Senior Manager - Practice Quality, Audit Quality and Risk Management of Grant Thornton LLP will speak at the Knowledge Congress’ upcoming webinar entitled: “SQCS No. 7 Managing Your Quality Control Systems”. This 2-hour event is scheduled on February 10, 2009, Tuesday, at 12 NN - 2:00 PM ET. (For further details of the event and an updated list of panelists, please visit: http://www.knowledgecongress.org/event_2008_SQCS7.html)

The new Statement on Quality Control Standards (SQCS) No. 7 will establish standards and guidelines for CPA firms with respect to the quality control of its auditing and accounting practice. This new guidance will also be issued in conjunction with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.

The Knowledge Congress is assembling a panel of distinguished professionals and key regulators to help the public understand the impact of the new guidelines on CPA firms and other companies that are most affected by them. The panel will present their findings, which include “Best Practices” in a two-hour Live webinar.

About Dean Beddow

Dean Beddow is a senior manager of Grant Thornton’s Practice Quality Review Team. The team is responsible for internal inspection and quality monitoring of the firm’s accounting and audit practice. Dean’s current responsibilities have focused on risk management, including being the Firm’s liaison for the external peer review and DOL Inspections. Dean has 21 years of public accounting experience including 10 years serving clients, primarily in the construction and distribution industries. Previous to Grant Thornton LLP, Dean was a senior technical manager at the AICPA. At the AICPA, his primary responsibility was managing all aspects of the AICPA Peer Review Program (Program) which included drafting peer review standards, serving as staff liaison to the AICPA Peer Review Board and overseeing the Program’s operations.

Dean is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and NJ Society of CPAs. Dean is also a member of the NJ Society of CPAs Peer Review Executive Committee. He has been a Board member of several not for profit organizations.

Dean is a frequent presenter on auditing and quality assurance matter at AICPA conferences and state CPA societies.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Commerce - Accounting, Rider University, NJ

About Grant Thornton LLP

Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International, one of the six global accounting, tax and business advisory organizations. Through member firms in more than 110 countries, including 50 offices in the United States, the partners and employees of Grant Thornton member firms provide personalized attention and the highest quality service to public and private clients around the globe.

For more information about Dean Beddow, and Grant Thornton LLP, please visit: www.grantthornton.com

About The Knowledge Congress

The Knowledge Congress is an organization that produces webinars that examine regulatory changes across a variety of industries. “We bring together the world's leading authorities and industry participants through informative two-hour Live webinars to study the impact of changing regulations.” To contact or to register for an event, please visit: www.knowledgecongress.org.

###