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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-21 I01F_03 Audit Services ProposalAGENDA ITEM: CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA CITY COUNCIL MEETING COMMUNICATION MEETING DATE: April 21, 2025 AGENDA ITEM:Consideration of approval of a resolution accepting the 3 year proposal from Denman & Company, LLP for auditing services for years ending June 30, 2025, 2026 and 2027. FORMAT:Resolution SYNOPSIS INCLUDING PRO & CON: Staff sent out 8 Audit Services RFP’s in February and received two proposals. Of the two proposals received, one was from our current firm, Denman CPA, LLP, and one additional from Bohnsack & Frommelt LLP. If interested, both proposals are available for your review. Denman partner Robert Endriss had several conversations with staff during the FY24 audit period indicating we should expect an increase in the proposed hours and fees. Prior proposal in 2019 included 260 hours versus 400 hours in the new proposal. With our continued growth the last 6 years that seems reasonable. Current fees versus proposals received for FY25, FY26 & FY27: FISCAL IMPACT INCLUDING COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS:$55,000, $58,000 and $61,000 plus $5,000, $5,000 and $5,500 for A133 services if needed, for FY25, FY26 and FY27 respectively. COMMISSION/BOARD/COMMITTEE COMMENT: STAFF REVIEW AND COMMENT: Staff’s recommendation is to award the 3 year contract to Denman CPA LLP. Based on our previous satisfaction with this firm, the professional level of services provided, I recommend continuing with their services. With the sale of the gas utility in the next fiscal year, we also feel their level of experience and familiarity with the enterprise fund will be valuable to ensure proper closing out of the financial records. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the resolution. ATTACHMENTS: I. Denman CPA LLP Proposal PREPARED BY:Linda Burkhart Audit/Exp A133 Audit/Exp A133 Audit/Exp A133 Audit/Exp A133 Denman & Company LLP 29,900$ 4,100$ 55,000$ 5,000$ 58,000$ 5,000$ 61,000$ 5,500$ FY25 FY26 FY27Current I1F3 REVIEWED BY: PUBLIC NOTICE INFORMATION – NAME OF PUBLICATION: DATE OF PUBLICATION: THE CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA RESOLUTION 2025- APPROVING AND ACCEPTING DENMAN & COMPANY, LLP FOR AUDITING SERVICES FOR YEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, 2026 AND 2027 IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA WHEREAS, Denman CPA, L.L.P. have provided auditing services for the City of Waukee during the fiscal years 2001 – 2024; AND, WHEREAS, Denman CPA, L.L.P. have been thorough, efficient and constructive in their opinions and recommendations for the City of Waukee; AND, WHEREAS, Denman CPA, L.L.P. is providing a valuable service at a fair and reasonable rate not to exceed $55,000, $58,000 and $61,000 respectively per year for auditing services, plus $5,000, $5,000 and $5,500 respectively per year, if needed, for an A133 filing; AND, WHEREAS, other routine consulting services as required by the City of Waukee during the fiscal years will be provided by Denman CPA, without additional fees; AND, WHEREAS, other non-routine consulting services as required by the City of Waukee during the fiscal years will be provide at Denman and Company’s standard hourly rate. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Waukee City Council in session this 21st day of April 2025 that it hereby approves and accepts the proposal from Denman CPA, L.L.P. for auditing services to be provided to the City of Waukee for years ending June 30, 2025, 2026 and 2027. ____________________________ Courtney Clarke, Mayor Attest: ___________________________________ Rebecca D. Schuett, City Clerk RESULTS OF VOTE: AYE NAY ABSENT ABSTAIN R. Charles Bottenberg Chris Crone Rob Grove Anna Bergman Pierce Ben Sinclair /D E N M A N ) D E N M A N CPA LLP 1601 22nd Street, Suite 400 West Des Moines. IA 5 0 2 66 P R O P O S A L F O R P R O F E SS I O N A L A U D I T S E R V I C E S Prepared for: F e a \V / l k Robert Endriss, CPA, Partner Q U ee rendr iss@d enman .cpa VP THE KEY TO G OO D LIVING (515)225-1680 C O N T E N T S Page Executive S u mm a r y 3 Firm Profile 4 Qualifications 5 E ngage ment Team 6-7 References and Similar E ngagements 8 Scope, services, and proposed project schedule 9-10 Fees and Hours 11-12 Conclusion 12 Peer Review Reports 13-14 D e n m a n C P A LL P = 1601 22"4 Street, Suite #400 » a West Des Moines, lowa 50266-1453 « www .d e nman -c pa.c o m 515-225-8400 « February 28, 2025 City of W a u k ee , lowa Linda Burkhart, Finance Director 230 W Hickman Road Waukee, IA 50263 On behalf of Denman CPA LLP, | am pleased to have the opportunity to submit the following proposal to provide professional auditing services for the City of Waukee. As you will find, Denman is committed to exceeding our client9s expectations and have prepared the following proposal to outline our experience and services to be provided. The following proposal includes our firm profile, qualifications, capabilities, and experience in the local government sector which makes Denman CPA LLP uniquely qualified to serve you. ny lf selected to be your independent auditor for the years ended June 30, 2025, 2026, and 2027 we will perform the work stated in the following proposal with those services conforming with the standards and the time period outlined therein. | appreciate this opportunity to present our proposal and would be pleased to discuss any aspect with you. If you have any questions, please contact me at (515) 225-1680 or rendriss@denman.cpa. Very truly yours, AWE EE Robert Endriss, CPA, Partner On behalf of the firm A b o u t D e n m a n C P A LL P W h o W e Are D e n m a n C P A LLP is a one-office firm located in W e s t Des Moines, lowa, and is one of the largest locally based CPA firms in the state. Our professional team, comprised of six partners, six managers, and approximately twenty-five professional staff, provide attest (audit, review, compilations), tax, and consulting services to clients across the United States. In practice for over seventy years, D e n ma n has been serving as independent certified public accountants for local governments since inception. D e n m a n -C P A LLP is a m e m be r of the AICPA division for CPA firms. Each CPA is an individual m e mb er of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the lowa Society of Certified Public Accountants. We are in compliance with the registration and permit requirements to engage in the practice of public accounting in the State of lowa. C o mm i t m e n t to Quali We are committed to quality and technical excellence. The Peer Review Program under the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is an indicator of an accounting firm9s quality and adherence with professional standards. W e have successfully completed each of our independent peer reviews since the inception of the peer review program. You can see our most recent peer review report attached in the proposal. Partner Involvement We believe our Firm offers you several advantages including prompt attention to your needs, a familiarity with and understanding of your service area, and the personal involvement of our partners and managers. These partners and managers work personally with you to provide the professional services you require. Expertise Our service philosophy is focused on adding value. We view our role as business advisors who know your City, keep informed of current activities, and provide you with timely advice to help you achieve your goals. Our considerable expertise with local governments, including uniform guidance single audits, allows us to provide you with more than an audit. We closely monitor accounting issues relevant to the local government sector and will promptly communicate interpretations of change to you. Client Satisfaction We recognize our most important product is prompt and effective service of the highest quality. All our efforts are directed toward achieving that goal. We believe we can serve you to your complete satisfaction. Accessibility and availability of partners and professionals to our clients is of paramount importance to us. The highest level of skills available to our Firm will be brought to bear on the servicing of your needs. For a more in-depth look at our services, specialists, objectives and identity, please visit our website (www.den ma n.c pa ). a a id > i~ id » » a » a al al - al B B B Why st i h oo s e The partners and managers of our Firm collectively have over two hundred and fifty years of experience in public accounting. A partner at our Firm has an average of twenty ? -five years of experience, a manager has an average of Us: seventeen years of experience and the professional staff average over three years. Experience Our Firm performs attest engagements for numerous w i local governments throughout the State of lowa. i a a - With an in depth knowledge of single audits, o e Re: the latest G A S B p ro no un ce me nt s, and state and federal regulations we aim to provide each of our clients with the most efficient audit and long-term guidance possible. C o n t i n u e d Pr o fessio nal E d u c a t i o n Denman9s quality control requires all professional personnel to complete a m i n i m u m of one hundred twenty hours of CPE in the last three calendar years, and not less than forty hours every year. Each of our professionals are in compliance. with the CPE requirements of the AICPA and Generally Accepted government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) which requires each professional receives a m i n i m u m of 40 hours of continuing education credits annually. Supervision and Re view In accordance with our adopted quality control standards, all procedures performed and workpapers prepared by staff m e m b e r s are first reviewed and approved by the supervisory person. A second review is performed by a m e m b e r of our assurance services committee that is considered to be a specialist in the industry. We utilize a consistent program of planning, supervision and review of all engagements. It is the responsibility of the en g a g e m e n t partner to assure that all en g a ge m e nt s are adequately planned and supervised. The en g a g e m e n t partner may delegate this function, but must be certain that all personnel assigned to the engagement are involved in the process to an appropriate degree. It is the policy of our Firm that professional staff m e m b e r s are properly supervised by a qualified m e m b e r of our Firm, normally a partner, during the performance of engagement procedures. SS e S a W y ! a o e s e a | a Meet the T e a m By their nature, professional services are inseparable from the people who deliver them. We have assembled a team who has the experience and business skills you need. The team members who will serve you are committed to quality teamwork, communication, and service to our clients. You can look forward to continuing a strong professional relationship with them. Robert Endriss, C P A Partner Robert joined the Den m a n team in 2014 and has over fourteen years of audit experience with a practice emphasis within the nonprofit and governmental industry, including Uniform Guidance Single Audits. His experience within the local government sector includes municipal utilities, internal control reviews, and uniform guidance single audits. Robert is a me mb er of the Firm9s Audit and Attestation Committee and is responsible for the Firm9s internal professional education programs. Educational b a c k g r o u n d and Certifications - BA in Accounting and Economics, Simpson College - Certified Public Accountant, State of lowa Areas of Focus Similar G o v e r n m e n t s served include: Municipal Governments City of Pleasant Hill Nonprofit Organizations Metro Waste Authority Employee Benefit Plans Indianola Municipal Utilities Joe Sparks CPA, Manager Joe Sparks joined De n man in 2018 and today provides audit and attestation services with a focus on the nonprofit, governmental, and healthcare industries. Joe has more than 10 years of public accounting experience and will be involved in the audit planning, internal control structure evaluation, audit program preparation, supervision and performance of audit procedures, and financial report preparation. Educational background and Certifications - BA in Accounting and Finance, University of lowa - Certified Public Accountant, State of lowa Areas of Focus Similar G o v e r n m e n t s served include: Nonprofit Organizations Des Moines Area M P O Municipal Governments City of Story City Healthcare Clarke County Public Hospital Meet the T e a m Other supervisory personnel who have experience in local government auditing and who are available for consultation are as follows: Steve Bruner Partner Over 30 years of experience Steve Schweizer Partner Over 30 years of experience Mandi Holcomb Partner Over 20 years of experience David Peirce Partner Over 20 years of experience We would expect to use two or three additional staff m em ber s during the performance of the audit. The staff m em b er s will have participated in local government audits since joining our Firm and currently have similar responsibilities for other audits. Our Firm's policy is to attempt to maintain staff continuity on engagements. Circumstances may arise which may necessitate changes in scheduling audit assistants; however, we make every effort to establish consistency in staffing. We consult with client personnel in charge of the audit process on any changes in engagement staffing. Our clients do have the ability to request staffing changes. We will work with you to assure that the staff assigned to the engagement provides the best service possible for you. Independence We are aware of no relationship or condition which would impair the independence of our firm with respect to the City of Waukee. Our Firm's policy is to comply with AICPA Professional Standards Volume 2, "Code of Professional Conduct, Bylaws, and Quality Control" regarding matters of independence. Similar Engagements and References D e n ma n is a leading provider of local government auditing services in the State of lowa, issuing the fifth most local government audit reports in the State during calendar year 2024. A partial list of local governments for wh om we provide audit services follows: City of Pleasant Hill Principal Contact Dena Spooner, Finance Director (515) 262-9368 dspooner@pleasanthilliowa.org City of Norwalk Jean Kelly, Finance Director (515) 981-0228 njohnson@midiowahealth.org City of Grimes | Marcia Woodke, Finance Director (515) 986-3036 m w oo d k e @ g r i m e s i o w a .g o v Metro Waste Authority Kirk Irwin, Chief Financial Officer (515) 323-6506 kir@ mwa toda y.c om City of Indianola Jackie Raffety, Finance Director (515) 961-9410 jraffety@indianolaiowa.gov City of Van Meter Jessica Drake, City Clerk (515) 996-2644 jdrake@vanmeteria.gov Indianola Municipal Utilities Chris D esP lan que s , General M a n a g e r (515) 961-9444 cdesplanques@indianolaiowa.gov Specific Audit Approach and Proposed Schedule Our audit of the financial statements will be con- ducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the comptroller general of the United States. Those standards and guidance require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasona- ble assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the finan- cial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant esti- mates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit will provide a reasonable basis for expressing an opinion on the fair presenta- tion of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles for the City of Waukee, lowa. Our audits are subject to the inherent risk that material errors, irregularities, or illegal acts including fraud or defalcations, if they exist, will not be detected. However, we will inform you of any such mat- ters that come to our attention. We will also communicate to you any material weaknesses or signifi- cant deficiencies in the internal control structure that we observe. During the course of our audit, we will try to initiate ideas or observations that we believe will help improve the operations of your City. It is our practice to bring such matters to the attention of the appropriate level of m a n a g e m e n t either orally or in writing. Upon completion of the audit, we will meet with the m a n a g e m e n t team to review the financial statements, comments, and re co mm e nd at i on s. Our audit will be performed using a year-end audit approach. Procedures will be applied to account balances as of June 30, 2025. We will segment the audit by account type and opinion unit, The level of staff assigned to each of these segments will be based on the materiality and audit risk associat- ed with the account balance and activity. We will then design an audit strategy for each segment based on the risk and materiality. Audit strategies include testing each item (precision), sampling or analytical procedures. Sampling will be performed on all material account balances except for direct confirmation of amounts received from federal and state sources. Analytical procedures will be used on all immaterial account balances and revenue and expense accounts. Statistical sampling will be used when it is deemed efficient. For accounts with relatively few large items making up the bal- ance, a nonstatistical sample will be used. We will document internal control by use of question- naires, job descriptions, flowcharts, and observation. These questionnaires are also designed to help determine applicable laws and regulations and will be used to determine the nature, timing, and extent of tests to be performed. Specific Audit Approach and Proposed Schedule W hen auditing the technology environment, we evaluate both the general technology controls and specific application controls that are in effect. This requires our auditors to consider how the accounting systems, infrastructure, processes, and people work individually and together to ensure financial records are being appropriately processed and reported. As such, we must work with staff to assess how the relevant systems and technology environment are administered and supported, and with accounting staff to evaluate how financial data is processed and system controls are maintained to enforce segregation of duties. Use of Tech nolo gy We will leverage the latest developments in our profession9s technology improvements to enhance the efficiency of our audit services. We utilize paperless audit software, which allows us to efficiently obtain, review, and document our client9s records and to generate and analyze your financial data. We will provide you access to an online portal to allow you to upload necessary audit documentation to us seamlessly. P r o p o s e d Timeline INTERIM AUDIT FIELDWORK L a t e June or early July 2025 FINAL AUDIT FIELD W O R K Early September 2025 DRAFT REPORTS, AJEs, AND MANAGEMENT LETTER Delivered to City staff by N ove mbe r 1, 2025 P R E S E N T A T I O N TO THE CITY C OUNCIL No later than D ecember 31, 2025 The proposed timetable is dependent upon the receipt of the schedules and reports from City personnel in a timely manner. Fees and H o u r s Routine Inquiries Our Firm is sensitive to your responsibility to control costs and we desire to help you achieve your goals by providing cost-effective services. Our engagement team9s experience with local governmental entities enables us to deliver efficient service. It is not our policy to bill you for responding to routine inquiries or questions requiring no significant commitment of research time on our part. We prefer our clients consider us as year-round advisors, a resource to assist with issues and questions. Professional fees for special projects requiring significant amounts of time will be negotiated and billed separately. Fees Our fees are based on the estimated time required by the individuals assigned to the engagements. Our fee proposal including estimated out-of-pocket expenses is as follows: 2025 2026 2027 Audit of the financial statements $ 55,000 $ 58000 $ 61,000 Uniform Guidance Single Audit (if applicable) $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,500 Our fees for consultation services, upon request by management, would be billed based on the time required by the individuals to complete the project. Individual hourly rates vary according to the degree of responsibility and the skill required. Estimated Hours and Hourly Rates We estimate the hours commitment for the engagement to be as follows: Estimated Hourly Staff Position Hours Rates Partner 50 $2754325 Manager 50 $2 00 4 2 5 0 Senior . 150 $1304170 Staff 150 $11 5 4 1 3 0 Total 400 U L N E AAR a O R Fees and H o u r s S c h e d u l i n g We will schedule our personnel consistent with the d emands of your engagement and will keep our expenditure of time to the minimum consistent with quality of service and professional standards. Interim billings will be submitted as work progresses. Billings are due upon thirty days of submission. Additional P ro ce du re s: We have indicated above the services to be included in our proposed fee. If circumstances arise during the course of providing those services which would require reconciliation procedures or which would cause additional work on our part, we will discuss those issues with your representative who oversees the audit process. We would encourage your staff to complete as many of these procedures as possible; however, if we are requested to do so, we would complete the work and bill you at our standard rates. Thank you for this Opportunity We hope you get at least two strong impressions of D e n m a n C P A LLP. First, we offer a team of professionals who are experts at accounting and financial and m a n a g e m e n t planning within the local government sector. Second, we understand your City and the professional accounting services you require. We can assure you that the City of W a u k ee will receive the best service available from D e n m a n CPA LLP. We would very much like to work with you and look forward to a positive response to this proposal and a long and mutually satisfying relationship. If you have any questions regarding this proposal, please contact us at your convenience. ee Quality Control and Peer R e v i e w CV OlsenThielen & Co, Lid, Report on the Firm's System of Quality Control duly 17, 2024 To the Pariners of Denman CPA LLP and the Peer Review Alliance Report Acceptance Committee. W e have reviewed the system of quality control for ihe accounting and auditing practice of D e n m a n C P A LLP (ihe firm) in effect for the year ended March 31, 2024. Our peer review was conducied in accordance with the Standards for Performing and Reporiing on Peer Reviews established by ine Peer Rewew Board of the American institule of Cevtified Pulsic Accountants (Standards) A s u mm a r y of the nature, objectives, scope, limiations of, and the procedures performed in a System Review as described in the Standards may be found at www.aicpa.crvorsummary. The summary also includes an explanation of how e n g a g e m e n t s identified as not perfommed or reported in conformuty with applicable professional standands, if any, are evaluated by a peer reviewer to determine a peer review rating. Firm's Responsibility The finm is responsible for designing and complying with a system of quality control to provide the finm wiih reasonable assurance ef performing and reporting in conformity with the requirements of applicable professional standards in all material respects. The firm is also responsible for evaluating actions to promptly remediate engagements. deemed as not performed or reported on in conformity with the requirements of applicable professional standards, when appropriate, and for remediating weaknesses in its system of quality Peer Reviewer's Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the design of and compliance with the firm's system of quality control based on our review. Required Selections and Considerations Engagements selected for review included engagements performed under Government Auditing Standards, including compliance audits under the Single Audit Act and audits of empl oyee benefit plans. 4s a part of our peer review, we considered reviews by regulatory entities as communicated by the firm, if apmicable, in detenmnining the nature and extent of our procedures. Opinion In our opinion, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Denman CPA LLP in effect for the year encied March 31, 2024. has been suillably designed and complied with to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with applicable professional standards in all maternal respects. Firms can receive a rating of pass, pass with deficiencyjies) or fal D e n m a n C P A LLP has received a peer review rating of pass. on HareLon + Co., L d . Cisen Thisien & Co., Lid. ShP8 Long Lake Hoad | Roseville, Minnenote | @ATTGTIY | aitaaesi2t | obT-aBs28e? FA | ropa oom SM) Praise Centar Drive, Suite 300 | Eden Prairie, Minnaasta | Solea POR | GAT-gRed « H R T CET R a : " Adrmireieing Geer ravens for the icbowirg: P EE R R E W I E VV Ninos GPA Society | lediana GPA Society | leas Society of CPAs | Rantucky Socinty of CRs A LL I A M E & ouih G a r ina Assocation af Chas | Wael Virginia Society of CPAs | Wismonee inaifiute of CPAs August 29, 2024 Steven Schweizer Denman CPA LLP 1601 22nd St Ste 400 West Des Moines, 1A 50266-1453 Dear Steven Schweirer: itis my pleasure to notify you that on August 29, 2024, the Peer Review Alliance Committee accepted the report on the most recent System Review of your firm. The due date for your next review is September 20, 2027. This is the date by which all review documents should be completed and submiited to the administering entity. AS you know, the report had a peer review rating of pass. The Committees asked me ip convey iis congratulations to ihe firm. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, Peer Review Committee peer evie w@ic pas.org 200.993.0407, then dial 4 cc: Gavin Bumham, Mandi Holcomb Firm Number. 9 0001 00 16 4 7 2 Review Number. 609609 a G l i n a l a CPA Socially | 500M Jackson, Sutte 26) Crecag, Herds SOBSLEE2 | Phone: BODURELOMO? | Fao SISKPLOGIT | pareucpeorg