Big Lots 2015 Annual Report Download - page 74

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting
firm to audit our financial statements for fiscal 2015. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as our
independent registered public accounting firm since October 1989. The Audit Committee annually
selects our independent registered public accounting firm.
Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy
Pursuant to the Audit Committee’s Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy, all audit and
non-audit services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP in fiscal 2015, including the related fees, were
pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Under the policy, the Audit Committee is required to pre-
approve all audit and permissible non-audit services performed by the independent registered public
accounting firm to assure that the provision of those services does not impair the firm’s independence.
Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of service and is subject to a specific
engagement authorization. The Audit Committee requires the independent registered public accounting
firm and management to report on the actual fees incurred for each category of service at Audit
Committee meetings throughout the year.
During the year, it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accounting firm
for additional services that have not been pre-approved. In those instances, the Audit Committee
requires specific pre-approval before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm. The
Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members for those
instances when pre-approval is needed prior to a scheduled Audit Committee meeting. The member or
members to whom pre-approval authority is delegated must report any pre-approval decisions to the
Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The fees billed to us for the professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP during the two
most recently completed fiscal years were as follows:
($ in thousands)
Fiscal 2014
($)
Fiscal 2015
($)
Audit Fees 1,355 1,355
Audit-Related Fees (1)776
Tax Fees (2) 346 105
All Other Fees (3) 1,007 3,533
Total Fees 2,715 5,069
(1) For fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015, the audit-related fees principally related to accounting
consultation.
(2) For fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015, $323 and $103 of the tax fees, respectively, related to tax
compliance services for our Canadian operations.
(3) For fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015, the other fees include fees related to online subscription fees for
technical support and fees paid to Deloitte Consulting of $1,005 and $3,530 in fiscal 2014 and
fiscal 2015, respectively, in connection with Deloitte’s advisory services related to the
development and expected launch of our e-commerce operations, the first phase of our multi-
year Omnichannel strategic initiative. The Deloitte Consulting advisory services were utilized for
approximately three months of 2014 and ten months in fiscal 2015, terminating in November of
2015. Deloitte Consulting is not acting in any company management capacity. A review of the
advisory services activities occurred at appropriate intervals with the Deloitte & Touche LLP audit
engagement partner, the Deloitte Consulting Team and the Audit Committee chair, to ensure that
independence was maintained.
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