Audit Services

Brunswick County, North Carolina is soliciting proposals from qualified independent auditors having sufficient governmental accounting and auditing experience in performing an audit in accordance with the specifications outlined in this Request for Proposal.The audit will encompass a financial and compliance examination of the unit’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) in accordance with the laws and/or regulations of the State of North Carolina, which include requirements for the minimum scope of the audit.  The financial and compliance audit will cover federal, state, and local funding sources in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards; Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller general of the United States; the provisions of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), the State Single Audit Implementation Act; and all other applicable laws and regulations.The scope of the audit and all fee quotes presented should include all approved and known pronouncements through the date of proposal submission. This includes, but is not limited to, Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements and Government Auditing Standards. Although some pronouncements will not be in effect until after the first year of the audit, estimates for future years should include pronouncements that will become effective during that contract period. The audit firm will be expected to advise appropriate County staff on the applicability of accounting and reporting standards as they become effective.The financial audit opinion will cover the financial statements for the governmental activities, the business-type activities, each major fund, discretely presented component units, and the remaining fund information, which collectively constitutes the basic financial statements. The combining and individual financial statements, schedules, and related information are not necessary for fair presentation, but will be presented as additional analytical data. This supplemental information, as required by GASB 34, will be subjected to the tests and other auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements, and an opinion will be given as to whether the supplemental information is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The Auditor shall express an opinion on the budgetary comparison information for the General Fund, annually budgeted major and special revenue funds. An opinion will not be given on the Management Discussion and Analysis.The audit will also include the following: A) Pre-planning conference with County Finance staff where both the Auditor and Finance staff discuss their expectations of the audit.  B) Interim audit work prior to June 30th and/or prior to final close.  C. Attendance at the Board of Commissioners meeting in early November of each contract year for presentation of the financial statements by a Partner of the audit firm with comments and potential questions from the Board as requested.The audit should encompass all funds and entity-wide activities as reported in the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) at June 30, 2025, and for each subsequent contract year, and any additional funds or entity-wide activities that may be added subsequent to that date.If required, the audit firm will issue a management letter to the Board of Commissioners after completion of the audit and assist management in implementing recommendations, as is practical. County staff also request that an informal letter be addressed to the Finance Director with any efficiency, internal control or accounting improvements that could be made based on the audit staff’s observation during their fieldwork.  All content must be discussed with the Finance Director prior to issuance.County staff may require the Auditor’s guidance or input on the completion of certain schedules/documents as to proper format and content, so that they can be used in the audit process as well as inclusion in the County’s financial statements.  Guidance may be required for new note disclosures, all outstanding and effective authoritative standards and other reporting requirements at June 30 year-end.  Cost for providing these services should be included in the Auditor’s base fee quote and will not be considered extra for additional billings.  In cases, however, where services requested would require a more in-depth scope and require work significantly above the original fee quote, such additional fees must be negotiated and mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing prior to commencement of work.