The Hartford 2008 Annual Report Download - page 327

Table of Contents
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, 2008.
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, 2008 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,
2008.
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.
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Source: HARTFORD FINANCIAL S, 10-K, February 12, 2009