The Hartford 2011 Annual Report Download - page 131

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IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
For a discussion of accounting standards, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information required by this item is set forth in the Capital Markets Risk Management section of Item 7, Management’ s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules elsewhere herein.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
The Company’ s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, based on their evaluation of the Company’ s disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)), have concluded that the Company’ s disclosure controls and
procedures are effective for the purposes set forth in the definition thereof in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) as of December 31, 2011.
Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting
The management of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“The Hartford”) is responsible for establishing and
maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for The Hartford as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
A company’ s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States. A company’ s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to
the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’ s assets that could have a
material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections
of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in
conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Hartford’ s management assessed its internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 in relation to criteria for
effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment under those criteria, The Hartford’ s management
concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011.
Attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm
The Hartford’ s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, has issued their attestation report on the
Company’ s internal control over financial reporting which is set forth below.