Accountant and Financial Consulting Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively seeking proposals for comprehensive Accountant and Financial Consulting Services for the period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, covering the financial records of both the City and the East Orange Water Commission. The extensive scope of work outlined in this Request for Proposal (RFP) encompasses providing critical accounting, budgetary, financial, and tax guidance. Key responsibilities include inspecting financial transactions for regulatory and procedural compliance, offering advice on legislative changes affecting record-keeping, and deploying dedicated part-time staff to support the City’s Finance Division and Police Department in reconciling accounts and preparing essential statements. Additionally, the selected firm will be responsible for reviewing and recording expense invoices, generating financial reports, maintaining the General Ledger and all related books of account, managing checking accounts, and ensuring meticulous record-keeping compliant with grant funding and state requirements for public agencies. The contractor will also assist in annual budget preparation, support the City’s retained auditor, and proficiently utilize the City's diverse information systems. Specialized services include detailed property-by-property analysis of PILOT agreements, processing financial documents for tax-abated/exempt projects, and overseeing their fiscal administration, from tax calculation to dispute resolution, along with maintaining a continuous revenue reporting system for these properties. Prospective contractors must demonstrate extensive expertise in municipal auditing laws and regulations, coupled with proven experience in advising municipal entities on records compliance and supporting critical financial tasks such as budget development and labor negotiations for a municipality of East Orange's scale. Mandatory minimum qualifications include holding valid Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) licenses, both issued by the State of New Jersey. Firms are required to have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in providing auditing services specifically to New Jersey municipalities. Furthermore, the successful firm must assign senior staff members, each possessing at least ten (10) years of experience in audit services and the other specified consulting areas, as regular support for the City. Maintaining a current principal office within the State of New Jersey is also a non-negotiable requirement. Respondents should detail any unique services offered to municipal clients and provide a comprehensive list of all past and present municipal engagements to showcase their relevant experience and capabilities. Proposals for these crucial financial consulting services are due by **Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time**, at which point they will be publicly opened and read aloud in the East Orange City Hall, Council Chamber. Detailed RFP packets can be procured for a non-refundable $25.00 fee from the Division of Procurement, City Hall, 1st floor, or downloaded from www.eastorange-nj.gov. Submissions must be enclosed in a sealed envelope, clearly identifying the consultant's name and the title "ACCOUNTANT AND FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES," addressed to the Purchasing Agent, City of East Orange, City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. The complete submission package mandates one (1) unbound original, four (4) additional copies, and one (1) compact disc (CD). Required documentation includes a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, a valid New Jersey Business Registration Certificate, Qualification Affidavit, and Letters of Intent and Qualification, among others. Bidders should note that proposals cannot be withdrawn for sixty (60) days after the opening. For specific inquiries regarding the RFP, contact Lisa L. Jackson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. No bid security or performance bonds are explicitly required within the provided document sections.