Accountant and Financial Consulting Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively soliciting qualification proposals from qualified persons and/or firms to provide comprehensive Accountant and Financial Consulting Services. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks to secure a contractor for a twelve-month period, specifically from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. The extensive scope of work includes essential accounting, budgetary, financial, and tax guidance; meticulous inspection of financial transactions and records to ensure regulatory compliance; expert advice on legislative changes impacting recordkeeping; and the provision of dedicated part-time staff to assist both the City’s Finance Division and Police Department with account reconciliation and statement preparation. Further responsibilities encompass reviewing and recording expense invoices, preparing various financial reports, maintaining the General Ledger and all books of account, aiding in the annual budget preparation process, supporting the City’s retained auditors with necessary financial information, and proficiently utilizing the City's electronic and manual information systems. Additionally, the selected firm will conduct property-by-property analysis of PILOT agreements, overseeing fiscal administration, calculating taxes, service charges, fees, and maintaining an ongoing revenue reporting system for tax-abated/exempt properties, addressing any related disputes. Prospective contractors must meet stringent qualification requirements to be considered. Mandatory licenses include a valid Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license and a valid Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) license, both issued by the appropriate authority of the State of New Jersey. Firms are required to demonstrate a minimum of ten years of experience in providing auditing services specifically to municipalities within the State of New Jersey. It is also imperative that the successful firm assign senior staff members who possess at least ten years of experience in audit services and other specialized services requested in this RFQ. Furthermore, the firm must maintain a current principal office within the State of New Jersey. Respondents should highlight their knowledge of municipal auditing laws and regulations, along with experience advising municipal entities on records compliance, budget development processes, and labor negotiations relevant to financially similar municipalities of East Orange's size. There are no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits specified in this solicitation. Qualification Proposals, including one unbound original, four additional copies, and one thumb drive containing the sealed submission, must be delivered to the Purchasing Agent in the East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. The definitive deadline for submission is **Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time**, at which point proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud. Submissions must be enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly bearing the consultant’s name and the title “ACCOUNTANT AND FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES” on the outside, and marked “Sealed Submission Enclosed.” Required documentation includes a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, Professional Services Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, Submission Form, Acknowledgement of Corrections, Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran, Statement of Indebtedness, Agreement for Payment of Commodity/Service, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Qualification. No bid security or performance bonds are indicated as required. For any questions regarding this RFQ, interested parties should contact Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.