RFP FIN # 26-01 Auditing Services
| Location: | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Due: | Mar 30, 2026 |
| Agency: | City of New Bern |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
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| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
RFP FIN # 26-01
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS
Request for Proposal (RFP # FIN 26-01)
Audit Services
The City of New Bern, North Carolina, is soliciting proposals from qualified independent certified public accounting firms to provide audit services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, with the option to renew annually for up to four additional years, subject to Board approval.
The audit shall be conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), Uniform Guidance (if applicable), the North Carolina Local Government Commission (LGC) requirements, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
Sealed proposals will be received until:
March 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
City of New Bern – Finance Department
Attn: Jenna Lanfor, Purchasing Manager
606 Fort Totten Drive
New Bern, NC 28560
Proposals shall be clearly marked:
“RESPONSE TO RFP # FIN 26-01 FOR AUDIT SERVICES.”
Proposals must be submitted in two separate sections as outlined in the RFP. Late proposals will not be considered.
A copy of the full Request for Proposal may be obtained from the City’s website at www.newbernnc.gov or by contacting:
Helen Stephens
Assistant Director of Finance
All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing no later than March 9, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive informalities, and award the contract in the best interest of the City. Award of contract is subject to approval by the City of New Bern Board of Aldermen and the North Carolina Local Government Commission.
Attachment Preview
City of New Bern
Request for Proposal RFP # FIN 26-01
To Provide Audit Services
__________________________________________________________
_____
Date of Issue: March 02, 2026
Responses Due: March 30 at 2:00 pm
__________________________________________________________
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City’s Contact Information:
Name:
Title:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Helen Stephens
Assistant Director of Finance, City of New Bern
606 Fort Totten Drive, New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 639-2722
StephensH@newbernnc.gov.
Request for Proposal
The City of New Bern, in New Bern, North Carolina (hereinafter called the “City”) invites
qualified independent auditors (hereinafter called “auditor”) having sufficient governmental
accounting and auditing experience in performing an audit in accordance with the specifications
outlined in this Request for Proposal (RFP) to submit a proposal.
There is no expressed or implied obligation for the City of New Bern to reimburse firms for any
expenses incurred in preparing proposals in response to this request.
The specific detail shown herein shall be considered minimum unless otherwise shown. The
specifications, terms, and conditions included with this RFP shall govern in any resulting
contract(s) unless approved otherwise in writing by the City of New Bern. The bidder consents
to personal jurisdiction and venue in a state court of competent jurisdiction in Craven County,
North Carolina.
Time Schedule for Proposals and Awarding the Contract
RFP Release Date
Deadline for RFP Questions*
Questions to be Answered No
Later Than
Deadline for Receipt of
Proposals**
Notice of Recommended Firm
Board Approval
March 2, 2026
March 9, 2026, by 5:00 pm
March 13, 2024
March 30, 2026, by 2:00 pm
City of New Bern, Finance Department
Attn: Jenna Lanfor
606 Fort Totten Drive
New Bern, NC 28560
April 3, 2026
April 14, 2026
*Any questions regarding bid submission should be directed to Jenna Lanfor, Purchasing
Manager, via email lanfor.jenna@newbernnc.gov.
**Proposals must be submitted by March 30, 2026, by 2:00 pm. Envelopes containing proposals
on paper should be clearly identified on the front with the words “RESPONSE TO RFP # FIN 26-
01 FOR AUDIT SERVICES”. See Section Submission of Questions Concerning RFP for detailed
instructions.
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Type of Audit
1. 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; Governmental Auditing
Standards, most recent revision; the provisions of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit
Implementation Act; and all other applicable laws and regulations.
2. 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, the 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 City staff on the applicability of accounting and reporting standards as they
become effective.
3. The financial audit opinion will cover the financial statements for the governmental
activities, the business-type activities, each major fund, discretely presented component
units (as applicable), 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 working papers shall be retained and made available upon request for no less than
three years from the date of the Audit report.
4. The audit will also include the following:
a. Pre-planning conference with the Finance Department staff, where both the auditor
and Finance staff discuss their expectations of the audit.
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b. The Lead Auditor/Audit Manager responsible for directly overseeing the City’s audit
shall attend up to three (3) Audit Committee Meetings:
• Pre-audit Workshop to educate and discuss planning, timeline,
expectations, and roles of the audit staff and the audit process with the
committee (June)
• Mid-audit update to discuss progress and address any challenges (August)
• Audit Workshop following the completion of the audit to discuss the
outcome of the audit and answer questions from the committee (late
September)
c. Interim audit work prior to June 30th and/or prior to final closing.
d. Attendance no later than the January Board of Aldermen meeting for the
presentation of the financial statements by the Manager or Partner of the Audit
Staff, with the expectation to address comments and potential questions from the
Board as requested.
5. The audit should encompass all funds and entity-wide activities as reported in the City’s
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) on June 30, 2025, and any additional funds
or entity-wide activities that may be added subsequent to that date.
6. If required, the audit firm will issue a management letter to the Board of Aldermen after
completion of the audit and assist management in implementing recommendations, as is
practical. City staff also request that an informal letter be addressed to the Finance Officer
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 Officer prior to issuance.
7. The City 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 City’s financial statements. Guidance may be required for
new note disclosures, all outstanding and effective authoritative standards, and other
reporting requirements on the June 30 year-end. Cost of 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 prior to commencement of work.
Auditor Requirements
The audit firm is an independent contractor and will be wholly responsible for the services and
supervision of its own employees and permitted subcontractors.
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A planning meeting will be held each year to determine schedules that the City will be
responsible for preparing. Estimated time frames will be established, and interim audit work will
be planned. Adequate notification will be given prior to any changes in estimated times.
The City of New Bern audit engagement must be conducted in accordance with Generally
Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS); Government Auditing Standards, most recent revision,
issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; and if applicable, the U.S. Office of
Management and Budget’s (OMB) Uniform Guidance; and if applicable, the State single Audit
Implementation Act, and any other applicable procedures for the audit of a local government’s
financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(GAAP). By accepting this engagement, the Auditor warrants that he has met the requirements
for a peer review and continuing education as specified in Governmental Auditing Standards.
The Auditor must provide a copy of their most recent peer review report with their proposal.
The Financial Statement Preparer (with the audit firm) will be ultimately responsible for the
preparation, typing, proofing, printing, and copying of the basic financial statements,
supplementary information, and compliance reports, with the Finance Director assisting in
preparation. The City staff will prepare all standard year-end accruals and other adjusting
journal entries. The Financial Statement Preparer (with the audit firm) will prepare the
government-wide year-end adjusting journal entries as well as any necessary entries to allocate
the state pension balances and post-employment benefits. The City shall designate an
individual, the Finance Director, who has the suitable skills, knowledge, and/or experience (SKE)
necessary to oversee the services and accept responsibility for the results of the services
performed. The City will require the assistance of the Financial Statement Preparer for the
preparation, typing, proofing, printing, and copying of the Basic Financial Statements,
supplementary information, and compliance reports. The City’s Finance Director will prepare
the MD&A. A preliminary draft of the audit and required adjusting journal entries must be
submitted to the Finance Director by October 15 for proofing and reconciliation of the City’s
records to allow ample time for review and corrections before it is sent to the Local Government
Commission. The City’s Finance Director will return the draft to the Financial Statement
Preparer with proposed revisions within 10 working days. Once all issues for discussion are
resolved and the auditor provides opinions and compliance reports, the auditor will complete
and submit the necessary Single Audit information to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse on behalf
of the City.
Meeting LGC deadlines is a high priority for the City. Therefore, the City of New Bern prefers
that interim fieldwork be completed in early June. Year-end fieldwork should begin by or before
late July and be completed by late August. All fieldwork may be completed remotely with
electronic submission of workpapers and supporting documents through the firm’s online
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