TO: Mayor Bien-Willner and Town Council Members
FROM: Jill Keimach, Town Manager
Douglas Allen, CPA
DATE: March 26, 2020
DEPARTMENT: Finance
Staff Contact Douglas Allen, 480-348-3696
End
AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Discussion of the Results of the Town’s Request for Proposal for Financial Audit Services Beginning FY2019-20
Body
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
MOST RECENT AUDIT 2019
The accounting firm of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP conducted the annual financial audit for the year ended June 30, 2019 and concluded the Town’s financial statements present fairly in all material respects, the financial positions of the governmental activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information for the Town of Paradise Valley.
The Town received a clean audit opinion and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), Annual Expenditure Limitation Report (AELR) and the Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) Compliance Letter.
PRIOR YEARS’ AUDITS 2011-2019
The Town has had the same auditing firm since 2011 and had changed the lead and senior auditors for the last audit year 2019
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP has the Town’s audit firm since from FY2019 to FY2011. FY2009 and FY2010 were audited by LaronAllen LLP. Cronstrom, Osuch & Company were the Town’s auditors from FY2006 to FY2008.
Though the Town has a long-standing relationship with this audit firm and individual auditors, the Town conducted an RFP for audit services beginning with its FY2020 financial statements.
NEXT AUDITS 2020-2024
A finance department directive was to hold a competitive procurement. The department issued a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) for Auditing Services due on February 3, 2020. While the main purpose of this solicitation is for the standard Arizona audit and attestation services, additional CPA services were requested under this proposal. Such services included the Municipal Courts audit and the federal single audit in the event the Town receives federal funding exceed the threshold requiring an audit.
Four (4) responses were received and evaluated based on the criteria set forth in the RFP. The Evaluation committee comprised of the Towns Chief Financial Officer, Senior Finance & Budget Analyst and the new Procurement Coordinator. All the Firms demonstrated their ability to meet the requirements and the evaluation committee decided to invite all four firms to hold oral interviews/presentations.
The Evaluation Committee recommends awarding the contract to Henry + Horne based on their qualifications & experience, high interview score, their ability to meet all of Town’s requirements, and lowest cost. Henry + Horne’s proposal is attached.
The recommended contract would follow GFOA recommended practices of three (3) years, with the option for two (2) additional renewal options up to a total contract term of five (5) years. The first audit would be for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.
Next Steps
After receiving the Town Attorney’s approval as to form, a contract for auditing services is planned to be on the Town Council’s Action agenda April 9th.
PROCESS REVEIW INITIATIVE
With a new auditing firm comes a new fresh look. Where some financial processes in the Town may have been “the way it’s been done” and fine under prior audits, a new look is expected to bring new and improved ideas. Town staff have development many new procedures, enhanced many existing processes and have identified various opportunities for improvements.
As part of the Finance Department’s 2020 initiatives, a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) has been posted for a “business process and performance review”. This will examine various aspects of the Town’s business processes including quality and internal controls to make assessments of their performances and recommendations for improvements.
However, with recent fiscal events facing the Town, this process will be deferred. How long will depend on availability of human and fiscal resources and a cost / benefit analysis for strategic improvements that could be implemented. One example is changing the process of paying an invoice from “paper and pen” to vendors providing invoices electronically with the Town approving and paying through an automated workflow.
Both the Audit and Process Review are integral components of improving business processes to meet best practices in the industry, professional standards, quality and internal controls, and cost effectiveness and efficiencies.
COSTS
The RFP presented audit service costs not to exceed $172,016 for the 5-contract; and not to exceed $30,850 for FY2020.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1) Presentation
2) RFP 20-105-FIN
3) Horn+Horne Proposal to Provide Audit Services