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AMENDED AND RESTATED CHARTER
PREAMBLE
This Audit Committee Charter (the “Charter”) has been adopted by the
Board of Directors of AMB Financial Corp. (the “Company”). The Audit
Committee of the Board shall review and reassess this charter annually
and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
OBJECTIVES OF COMMITTEE
• To provide assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
fiduciary responsibilities and oversee management's activities relating
to accounting, record keeping, financial reporting, disclosure controls
and internal control over financial reporting.
• Provide a vehicle and establish a forum for the free and open
communication of views and information among the Company's directors,
independent public accounting firm, internal auditor and management.
• To review the independence of the Company's independent public
accounting firm and the objectivity of internal auditor.
• To perform the audit committee functions specified by the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the OTC Bulletin Board.
• To establish and maintain a system for confidential complaints
regarding the Company's accounting, financial reporting, disclosure
controls, and internal control over financial reporting.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The responsibilities of the committee include the following:
Independent Auditors:
• Appoint an independent public accounting firm for the purpose of
auditing the Company's financial statements and, if and when required,
attesting to its internal control over financial reporting.
• Assess the qualifications of the Company's public auditing firm and
its lead engagement partner. Oversee and evaluate the performance of
such person and firm; if necessary, remove them.
• Obtain annually from the Company's independent public auditing firm a
formal written statement describing all relationships between the firm
and the Company. Discuss with the Company's independent public auditing
firm any relationships that may impact the objectivity and independence
of such firm and take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate
actions with respect to the independence of such firm from the Company.
• Obtain annually from the Company’s independent auditing firm a
statement regarding its quality control procedures.
• Resolve any disagreements between management and the Company's
independent public auditing firm regarding accounting, financial
reporting, disclosure controls, internal control over financial
reporting and similar matters.
• Approve, in advance, all audit and non-audit services to be performed
for the Company by its independent public auditing firm, subject to
applicable law and regulation. Negotiate and approve all fees and
engagement terms of the Company's independent public auditing firm for
audit and non-audit services.
• Obtain assurance from the Company's independent public auditing firm
that Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act has not been implicated.
• Review with the Company's independent public auditing firm the plan,
procedures and scope of its annual audit of the Company's financial
statements.
• Prepare such committee reports as may be required for inclusion in the
Company’s annual proxy statement.
Financial Reporting Review:
• Receive at least annually reports on critical accounting policies,
alternate treatments within GAAP and significant assumptions and
estimates with respect to the Company's financial statements from its
management and independent public auditing firm. In connection with such
review, review the financial accounting and reporting treatments
preferred by the Company's independent auditing firm.
• Review and discuss the Company’s audited financial statements with
management and the Company’s independent public auditing firm including
all of the matters indicated in Statement of Auditing Standards Number
61. Based on such review, recommend to the board whether such audited
financial statements should be included in the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-KSB and Annual Report to Stockholders for the relevant fiscal
year.
• Review material written communications between the Company's
independent public auditing firm and management including the management
letter and schedule of unadjusted differences.
• Receive reports from management on at least an annual basis on the
Company’s disclosure of material off-balance sheet data and
non-financial data.
• Receive reports from management on the appropriateness of any material
pro forma data to be included in the Company’s public financial reports.
• Review and discuss with management and the Company’s independent
public auditing firm prior to release any proposed earnings announcement
or financial press release.
• Review and discuss with management and the Company’s independent
public auditing firm prior to filing the Company’s Annual Reports on
Form 10-KSB, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB and any other SEC
financial disclosure filings.
• Monitor the efforts of management and the Company's independent public
auditors to cure any deficiencies noted in its financial statements or
accounting process.
Disclosure Controls and Internal Control over Financial Reporting:
• Oversee the selection, compensation and performance of the Company's
internal auditor or auditing firm. Assess the qualifications and
independence of the Company's internal auditor or auditing firm.
• Discuss with the Company's management, independent public auditing
firm and internal auditor the organization, scope, objectivity, budget
and staffing of the Company's internal audit function.
• Instruct that no restrictions be placed upon the scope of the internal
audit. Receive reports from the Company’s internal auditors regarding
its computer systems, facilities and backup systems.
• Review material regulatory examination reports and internal audit
reports and receive reports from management regarding its compliance
efforts.
• Discuss with the Company's independent public auditing firm, internal
auditor and management, the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s
financial and reporting controls including internal control over
financial reporting and disclosure controls.
• Review reports of management and the Company's independent public
auditing firm on internal and quality controls including, if and when
required by applicable law or regulation, management’s report and the
independent public auditing firm’s attestation on internal control over
financial reporting.
• Discuss with management on a quarterly basis its review and
conclusions regarding the Company's disclosure controls and whether
there has been any changes in the Company's internal control over
financial reporting.
Other:
• Discuss the Company's legal and regulatory compliance with the
Company's Chief Compliance Officer on at least an annual basis.
• To the extent required under applicable SEC and OTC Bulletin Board
rules, review and approve all transactions with related parties.
• Establish procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of
any complaints received by the Company on accounting, financial
reporting, internal control over financial reporting, or auditing
matters and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by the Company's
employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting, financial
reporting, internal control over financial reporting and auditing
matters.
• Reassess the adequacy of this Charter at least annually.
ORGANIZATION
• The committee shall consist of a minimum of three outside directors of
the Company. All members must be (i) able to read and understand
financial statements and (ii) able to satisfy applicable OTC Bulletin
Board, SEC and other requirements with respect thereto. In addition, if
required by applicable SEC, OTC Bulletin Board or other regulations, at
least one member shall have past employment experience in finance or
accounting, requisite professional certifications in accounting, or any
other comparable experience, training or background which results in
such member’s financial sophistication (including being or having been a
chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer
with financial oversight responsibilities).
• All members of the committee must be free from any relationship with
the Company which would interfere with their independent judgement.
Other than in his or her capacity as a member of the board of directors
or any committee thereof, no audit committee member shall accept
directly or indirectly any financial consulting or advisory fee from the
Company or any subsidiary. All audit committee members must comply with
all applicable independence requirements of the OTC Bulletin Board, the
SEC and any exchange or electronic trading system on which the Company’s
stock is traded.
• The committee shall meet at least four times a year and more
frequently as circumstances require. The timing of meetings shall be
determined by the committee. However, at least once per year, the
committee shall have private meetings with each of the Company's
independent public auditing firm, management and the internal auditor.
• One member of the committee shall be appointed as chairman. The
chairman shall be responsible for leadership of the committee, including
scheduling and presiding over meetings, preparing agendas, and making
regular reports to the board. The chairman will also maintain liaison as
needed with the Company's CEO, CFO, the lead partner of its independent
public auditing firm, the internal auditor and the general counsel.
• The committee shall create written minutes of its meetings. Following
approval by the committee, the minutes shall be reported to the Board of
Directors and shall be maintained with the books and records of the
committee.
• The committee shall perform annually a self-assessment relative to its
performance relative to the purpose, duties and responsibilities as
outlined herein.
• The committee shall have the power to conduct or authorize
investigations into any matters within its scope of responsibilities.
The committee is empowered to engage independent counsel and such other
advisers as it determines necessary or appropriate to carry out its
duties. The Company shall pay all expenses of such advisors and any
other expenses that are necessary or appropriate for carrying out the
committee’s duties.
OTHER
• The committee, and each member of the committee in his or her capacity
as such, shall be entitled to rely, in good faith, on information,
opinions, reports or statements, or other information prepared or
presented to them by (i) officers and other employees of the Company and
its subsidiaries whom such member believes to be reliable and competent
in the matters presented, and (ii) counsel, public accountants or other
persons as to matters which the member reasonably believes to be within
the professional competence of such person.
• The committee's duties do not include planning or conducting external
or internal audits or determining that the Company's financial
statements are complete, accurate and in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. Nor is it the duty of the committee to
assure compliance with laws and regulations. These are the
responsibilities of management.
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