ACCOUNTANT AND FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting proposals through this Request for Proposal (RFP) for comprehensive Accountant and Financial Consulting Services. This critical engagement covers the financial records of the City, including the East Orange Water Commission, for the period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019. The successful firm will provide essential accounting, budgetary, financial, and tax guidance; conduct inspections of financial transactions and records to ensure compliance with regulations; offer advice on legislative changes impacting recordkeeping; and supply part-time personnel to assist both the City’s Finance Division and Police Department with account reconciliation and statement preparation. Furthermore, the scope includes reviewing and recording expense invoices, preparing financial reports, maintaining the General Ledger and all books of account, managing financial records in adherence to grant funding and state requirements, aiding in annual budget preparation, supporting the City’s retained auditor, and utilizing municipal information systems. Additional responsibilities encompass property-by-property analysis of PILOT agreements, processing reports, financial statements, and documents for tax-abated/exempt projects, and overseeing their fiscal administration, including tax calculations, service charges, invoice review, and dispute resolution. Prospective contractors must possess significant expertise in municipal auditing laws and regulations, with demonstrated experience advising municipal entities on records compliance and supporting budget development and labor negotiations for municipalities comparable in size to East Orange. Mandatory minimum requirements include holding valid Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and Registered Municipal Accountants (RMA) licenses issued by the appropriate authority of the State of New Jersey. Firms must also prove a minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in providing auditing services to New Jersey municipalities and commit to assigning senior staff members with at least ten (10) years of experience in audit and specialized services. A crucial qualification is maintaining a current principal office within the State of New Jersey to ensure local presence and responsiveness. No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are indicated in the RFP document. Proposals for these Accountant and Financial Consulting Services must be submitted by Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time. Submissions will be publicly opened and read aloud at the East Orange City Hall, Council Chamber. Each proposal 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 addressed to the Purchasing Agent, City of East Orange, City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Required submission documents are extensive, including a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, Qualification Affidavit, and a Submission Form, among others. One unbound original, four additional sets, and one compact disc (CD) of the sealed submission are required. Proposals cannot be modified, withdrawn, or canceled for sixty (60) days after the submission deadline. For any questions, contact Lisa L. Jackson, QPA, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.