RFP for Accountant & Financial Consulting Services and Municipal Auditor / Financial Advisor Services

The City of East Orange is actively soliciting proposals for two critical professional services: Accountant and Financial Consulting Services, and Municipal Auditor and/or Financial Advisor Services. The Accountant and Financial Consulting engagement, scheduled from February 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, encompasses a comprehensive range of responsibilities including providing accounting, budgetary, financial, and tax guidance; inspecting financial transactions and records to ensure compliance; advising on legislative changes impacting financial records; deploying part-time staff to the City’s Finance Division and Police Department for account reconciliation and statement preparation; managing expense invoices; generating financial summaries; maintaining the General Ledger; reconciling and preparing checks; compiling various financial statements; adhering to grant funding and state recordkeeping requirements; assisting in annual budget preparation and supporting the retained auditor; and proficiently utilizing the City's electronic and manual information systems. Concurrently, the Municipal Auditor and/or Financial Advisor contract, for a one-year term, mandates the statutory audit of all City funds for the calendar year ending December 31, 2017, including tests of internal controls and compliance with statutory requirements, performance of federal and state single audits as per OMB Circular A-133 and NJ OMB Circular 04-04, preparation of the City’s audited statutory financial statements, review of the annual budget, and provision of ongoing accounting, tax, financial, and budgetary advice to City leadership. Both solicitations aim to secure highly capable firms that offer the greatest benefit to East Orange taxpayers by demonstrating professional, financial, and administrative excellence. Prospective contractors for both professional service roles must demonstrate substantial expertise in municipal auditing laws and regulations, coupled with significant experience advising municipal entities on records compliance, budget development processes, labor negotiations, and other financially relevant tasks within a municipality comparable in size to East Orange. Mandatory qualifications include possessing valid Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) licenses, both issued by the appropriate authority in the State of New Jersey. Furthermore, firms must provide evidence of a minimum of ten years’ experience delivering auditing services to New Jersey municipalities. The requirement extends to senior staff members assigned to the City, who must also possess at least ten years of experience in the specified audit and related financial services. Applicants are also mandated to maintain a current principal office located within the State of New Jersey and provide comprehensive details on their staffing plan, individual qualifications, and any specialized services offered to municipal clients. Firms must comply with N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq. (Affirmative Action), N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration of Public Contractors), and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership). No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are scheduled for these solicitations. Submissions for the Accountant and Financial Consulting Services are due by Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. prevailing time, and will be publicly opened immediately thereafter. Proposals for the Municipal Auditor and/or Financial Advisor Services are due at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time on the same date, with a public opening to follow. All sealed proposals, which must include one unbound original, four additional copies, and one compact disc (CD), should clearly indicate the consultant's name and the specific service title on the exterior envelope, addressed to the Purchasing Agent, City of East Orange, City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 is required for physical RFP packets picked up from the Division of Procurement. Required submission documents include a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, Professional Service Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, Submission Form detailing cost and hourly rates, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Qualification. For questions, contact Lisa L. Jackson, QPA, at (973) 266-5162.