February 3, 2009                                                                                   

Weitzman names John Howell of Freeport to Comptroller’s Audit Advisory Committee

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman today appointed John H. Howell of Freeport to the Comptroller’s Audit Advisory Committee. Mr. Howell was approved unanimously by the other committee members at the first meeting of 2009. The Comptroller's Audit Advisory Committee is charged with helping to ensure the integrity of the county's financial statements and audits.

"John’s background as a Certified Public Accountant and his work experience with the accounting firm of Ernst & Young and Ameriprise Financials will make him a great asset to the Audit Advisory Committee.”

Mr. Howell was a Tax Partner at Ernst & Young in the New York City office and a Financial Advisor at American Express Financial Advisors (now called Ameriprise Financials). He is a graduate of Queens College where he received a BA in Accounting and also has an MBA in Taxation from Pace University. He retired from Ernst & Young in 1995 and currently resides in Freeport with his wife Andrea Elder-Howell.

Serving without pay, the committee of seven leaders of Nassau County's business, government and educational communities advise and assist the Comptroller's office in its internal control and audit responsibilities. Comptroller Weitzman established the committee in 2003 to be similar to the private sector audit committees required under the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Committee consists of five experts and two government officials.The Comptroller and a director from the county’s external audit firm, Deloitte & Touche, also attend each meeting.

"The Audit Committee helps to ensure that the county's financial statements and other audit documents are fair and objective, in order to help ensure their integrity and bolster the public's confidence in Nassau County and its finances," Mr. Weitzman said.  "Essentially, it is the function of this committee to monitor the monitors."

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