Jerry Hufton Joins SMART as Partner

Chicago, IL July 7, 2006 – SMART Accounting and Consulting is delighted to announce that Jerry C. Hufton, CPA, has joined the company as a Partner of Accounting and Assurance Services in the Chicago office. Hufton has more than 12 years of experience in accounting, audit, consulting, and enterprise risk management, with an emphasis in the insurance and financial services sectors. He has extensive experience with both large, public registrants and middle-market operations, where he has managed strong relationships with company boards and all levels of executive management. He has expertise in public filings and compliance with SEC reporting requirements, internal audit co-sourcing, risk modeling, regulatory oversight, and Sarbanes-Oxley implementation and compliance within many of the nation’s largest organizations.

Prior to joining SMART, Hufton was with the Chicago practice of Deloitte and Touche, LLP. Hufton held a number of positions of increasing responsibility within Deloitte’s Assurance and Enterprise Risk Services group. In that role, he interacted heavily with senior executives of publicly traded companies, including leading multinational clients in the insurance and banking industries with combined assets exceeding $70 billion. He led, supervised and trained large teams of accountants and consultants each year working in multi-functional engagement teams throughout the country.

Hufton has extensive experience recruiting, retaining and developing all levels of professionals within a service organization. He is well known within the Midwest for active participation in financial services lectures and the preparation of educational materials used in personnel development and training.

About SMART

SMART Accounting and Consulting (www.smartllp.com) is a leading, full-service accounting and consulting company serving clients throughout the U.S. and globally. SMART offers innovative solutions to public and private companies in the areas of business consulting and advisory, technology, business process, assurance, accounting, compensation and benefits, tax and financial planning.

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