Each insurer required to file an annual audited financial report must, within sixty (60) days after becoming subject to such requirement, register with the commissioner in writing the name and address of the independent certified public accountant or accounting firm (generally referred to here as the “accountant”) retained to conduct the annual audit set forth in Section 83-5-101. Insurers not previously retaining an independent certified public accountant shall register the name and address of their retained certified public accountant not less than six (6) months before the date when the first audited financial report is to be filed.

The insurer shall obtain a letter from such accountant, and file a copy with the commissioner stating that the accountant is aware of the provisions of the insurance code and the rules and regulations of the Department of Insurance that relate to accounting and financial matters and affirming that he will express his opinion on the financial statements in terms of their conformity to the statutory accounting practices prescribed or otherwise permitted by the department, specifying such exceptions as he may believe appropriate.

If an accountant who was the accountant for the immediately preceding filed audited financial report is dismissed or resigns, the insurer shall within five (5) business days notify the Department of Insurance of this event. The insurer shall also furnish the commissioner with a separate letter within ten (10) business days of the above notification stating whether in the twenty-four (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 to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with his 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 are those that occur at the decision-making level, i.e., 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 such 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 does not agree; and the insurer shall furnish such responsive letter from the former accountant to the commissioner together with its own.