Lacombe County, the Highway 12/21 Regional Water Commission, and the Sylvan Lake Regional Water/Wastewater Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Organizations”) invites qualified accounting firms (hereinafter referred as “audit firm” or “Respondent”) to submit proposals to provide professional annual auditing services to the Organizations for a period of three (3) years (2025-2027 audit years). The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to obtain all auditing services required by the Organizations for its operations at a competitive value for service. These audits are to be performed in accordance with 1) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for Municipal Governments established by the Public Sector Accounting Board of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and 2) Reporting requirements as set out by the Province of Alberta in the Municipal Government Act and its regulations. We wish to clarify that this RFP is not motivated by concerns with the current accounting firm, who provides an excellent service to the Organizations. Financial Auditing Services will include, but are not limited to: • Planning and performing the audit; • Performing tests of documentary evidence; • Evaluation of internal controls; • Review of adjusted journal entries; • Review of year-end financial statements; • Draft and final Audit Report; and • Tri-Annual Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP) audit. The Organizations annual financial information reporting includes: • Lacombe County • Audited financial statements; • Audited municipal financial information return; • Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Financial Information Review; • Local Authorities Pension Plan Compliance Audit (required every 3 years); • Shared Fire Special Report; and • The County is currently reviewing its current financial software with a plan to replace during the term of this audit contract. This is out of scope of this proposal and any additional audit testing required because of this software change will be quoted separately at time of audit. The County also provides accounting and management services for the following organizations, which also have the following annual financial information reporting requirements: • Highway 12/21 Regional Water Commission • Audited financial statements; and • Audited municipal financial information return. • Sylvan Lake Regional Water/Wastewater Commission • Audited financial statements; and • Audited municipal financial information return. The organizations current accounting firm audits each of these entities in conjunction with Lacombe County, but they report to separate Boards. Submission of a separate proposal for each Organization listed above is required as an audit in conjunction with the County. The auditors’ responsibilities will be to provide an expression of opinion on these financial statements, Alberta Municipal Affairs Information, and discussion with respect to presentation and disclosure.
