Accountant and Financial Consulting Services

The City of East Orange, located in Essex County, State of New Jersey, is actively soliciting Qualification Proposals for Accountant and Financial Consulting Services through a Fair & Open Public Solicitation Process. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks proposals from qualified persons and/or firms to provide comprehensive accounting and financial consultancy for the City's financial records for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. The extensive scope of work includes, but is not limited to, offering accounting, budgetary, financial, and tax guidance; inspecting financial transactions and records to ensure compliance with regulations; advising on legislative changes impacting recordkeeping; providing part-time staff to assist the City’s Finance Division (three times per week) and the Police Department (two times per week) with account reconciliation and statement preparation; reviewing and recording expense invoices; preparing financial summaries and statements; maintaining the General Ledger and all books of account; assisting in the preparation of the Annual Budget; supporting the City’s retained auditor; utilizing or learning City-specific electronic and manual information systems; conducting property-by-property analysis of PILOT agreements and annual service charge comparisons; reviewing and processing reports for tax abated/exempt projects; overseeing fiscal administration of such projects including calculation of taxes, service charges, fees, invoice review, financial analysis, quality assurance, and dispute resolution; and maintaining an ongoing revenue reporting system for tax abated/exempt properties, along with any other related tasks directed by the City Administrator or Chief Finance Officer. The contract term for the successful respondent will be twelve (12) months. Prospective contractors must demonstrate a strong knowledge of municipal auditing laws and regulations, coupled with significant experience in advising municipal entities on records compliance issues. Essential qualifications include a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in providing auditing services to municipalities within the State of New Jersey, requiring the assignment of senior staff members with at least ten (10) years of experience in audit services and other specified services. Mandatory licensing includes a valid Certified Public Accountants license and a valid Registered Municipal Accountants license, both issued by the appropriate authority of the State of New Jersey. Additionally, firms must maintain a current principal office within the State of New Jersey. The RFQ emphasizes past performance, documented references, the ability to provide timely services (including staffing and location of key staff), and cost details, including hourly rates and expenses. There is no mention of mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits within the provided document sections. Qualification Proposals must be submitted to the Purchasing Agent in the East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement, First Floor, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. The submission deadline is Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time, at which time proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud. Submissions must be enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly bearing the name of the consultant and the title “ACCOUNTANT AND FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES” on the outside. Bidders are required to submit one (1) unbound original, four (4) additional sets, and one (1) thumb drive of their sealed submission. The proposal package must include numerous standardized submission forms, such as a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, Qualification Affidavit, and Letters of Intent and Qualification, among others. No bid security or bonds are explicitly mentioned. For any questions, prospective bidders may contact Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. Proposals cannot be modified, withdrawn, or canceled for sixty (60) days after the submission time.