Accountant and Financial Consulting Services

The City of East Orange, located in Essex County, New Jersey, is soliciting qualification proposals for comprehensive Accountant and Financial Consulting Services for the period of January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. The selected firm will provide critical support to the City's financial operations, including accounting, budgetary, financial, and tax guidance. Key responsibilities encompass inspecting financial transactions and records for compliance, advising on legislative changes, providing dedicated part-time staff to assist the Finance Division and Police Department with account reconciliation and statement preparation, managing expense invoices, maintaining the General Ledger, assisting with the Annual Budget, supporting the City’s retained auditor, and utilizing the City’s various information systems. Furthermore, the scope extends to property-by-property analysis of PILOT agreements, processing reports for tax-abated projects, overseeing fiscal administration, and maintaining revenue reporting systems for tax-abated properties. This one-year contract is essential for ensuring robust financial oversight and compliance within the municipality. Prospective contractors must demonstrate extensive expertise in municipal finance. Required qualifications include possessing valid Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and Registered Municipal Accountants (RMA) licenses issued by the State of New Jersey. Firms are mandated to have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience specifically in providing auditing services to municipalities within New Jersey. Proposers must assign senior staff members as regular support for the City, with each having at least ten (10) years of experience in audit services and the other specialized services requested. Additionally, maintaining a current principal office within the State of New Jersey is a mandatory requirement. Firms should detail any special services offered to municipal clients and provide a comprehensive list of all past and present municipal clients to showcase relevant experience. Qualification Proposals must be received by the Purchasing Agent in the East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement, on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. prevailing time, where they 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, addressed to the PURCHASING AGENT, City of East Orange, City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Bidders are required to submit one unbound original, four additional sets, and one thumb drive of their proposal. A comprehensive checklist of mandatory submission documents, including various affidavits, certificates (such as Business Registration and Employee Information Report), and forms (including Letter of Intent and Letter of Qualification), must be fully completed. Proposals will remain firm for sixty (60) days after opening. For any questions regarding the RFQ, interested parties should contact Racquel C. Ferguson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.