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HomeMy WebLinkAbout911221.tiff AGREEMENT Between WELD COUNTY and ANDERSON & WHITNEY, P.C. PROVIDING FOR AN AUDIT OF COUNTY RECORDS FOR FISCAL YEARS 1991 And 1992 KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That WELD COUNTY, a Body Corporate and Politic, and a Political Subdivision of the State of Colorado, hereinafter referred to simply as COUNTY, through its Board of County Commissioners, which term shall include their successors and assigns, AND ANDERSON & WHITNEY, P.C. , Certified Public Accountants doing business or authorized to do business in the State of Colorado, hereinafter referred to simply as AUDITOR. WITNESSETH, that, for and in consideration of the mutual terms and conditions, promises, covenants and payments hereinafter set forth, COUNTY and AUDITOR hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I PREAMBLE In order to establish the background, context and frame of reference for this Agreement and to manifest the objectives and intentions of the respective parties herein, the following statements, representations and explanations shall be accepted as predicates for the undertakings and commitments included within the provisions which follow and my be relied upon by the parties essential elements of the mutual considerations upon which this Agreement is based. 1. 1. Section 14-4 of the Weld County Home Rule Charter and Section 29- 1-603, CRS, require that the COUNTY shall provide annually for an audit of the accounts and finances of the COUNTY. 1.2. Weld County, pursuant to Board policy and approved guidelines undertook a selection process in seeking a firm to perform the required financial audit. 1.2.1 The committee to which a part of this responsibility was delegated selected a firm deemed to be most qualified and made its recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on August 28, 1991. ACo067 a � 911221 1.2.2 On August 28, 1991, the Board of County Commissioners, with the committee's recommendations, established a fee and contract provisions governing the professional service to be performed. 1.2.3 On August 28, 1991, the Board of County commissioners voted to hire the firm of ANDERSON & WHITNEY, P.C. to audit the COUNTY records. ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS 2.1 COUNTY -- Weld County, a body politic and a political subdivision of the State of Colorado, specifically the Board of County Commissioners. 2.2 AUDITOR -- ANDERSON & WHITNEY P.C. , Certified Public Accountants. 2.3 FINANCIAL AUDIT -- Financial statement audits determine (1) whether the financial statements of an audited entity present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and (2) whether the entity has complied with laws and regulations for those transactions and events that may have a material effect on the financial statements. 2.4 AUDITOR'S REPORT ON AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Weld County desires the auditor to express an opinion on the fair presentation of its combining and individual fund and account group financial statements and schedules in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The auditor is not required to audit the combining and individual fund and account group financial statements and supporting schedules. However, the auditor is to provide an "in-relation-to" report on the combining and individual fund financial statements and supporting schedules based on the auditing procedures applied during the audit of the general purpose financial statements. The auditor is not required to audit the statistical section of the report. The auditor is not required to audit the schedule of federal financial assistance. However, the auditor is to provide an "in-relation-to" report on that schedule based on the auditing procedures applied during the audit of the financial statements. 2.5 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- A combined, combining and individual fund balance sheets operating statements - budget and actual, statements of cash flows - proprietary fund types and similar trust funds, notes to financial statements and required supplementary information. 2.6 AUDITOR'S LETTER OF COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS -- A letter to the COUNTY containing various comments and recommendations by the AUDITOR based upon a review of the COUNTY'S system of internal accounting and operating controls and other findings. 01 i 921 2.7 AUDITING SERVICES -- The services related to performing an audit as defined in Article 2.3, including examination and review procedures that may be requested by the COUNTY as extra work and which involve exclusively the use of the AUDITOR'S auditing staff. ARTICLE III TERM 3.1 This Agreement shall commence on the date that this instrument is fully executed by both parties. The initial term of this Agreement shall be for the period of the fiscal year 1991, and renewable at the option of the COUNTY for five (5) consecutive years. ARTICLE IV SCOPE OF AUDIT 4.1 FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS as maintained by Weld County. 4. 1.1 The AUDITOR shall assist in the preparation of the COUNTY'S annual financial report and include an opinion in its report regarding COUNTY'S financial statements and supplemental financial schedules. The financial statements shall be prepared in conformance with the primary funds and account groups as described in the GASB codification. Funds may be combined to the extent permitted by the GASB codification. 4.1.2 A Single Audit shall be done in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the standards set forth for financial audits in the U.S. General Accounting Office's (GAO) Government Auditing Standards (1988) , the provisions of the federal Single Audit Act of 1984 and U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-128, Audits of State and Local Governments. 4.2. SPECIAL REPORTS -- Special reports shall be prepared for the following as required by, and in accordance with, authoritative literature existing during the period audited. 4.2. 1 Retirement 4.2.2 Treasurer 4.2.3 County Fair 4.2.4 Grand Jury Audit of Treasurer, as required C04 O,9i Included in the County CAFR are the following: 4.2.5 Road and Bridge Revenue and Expenditures 4.2.6 Public Trustee The AUDITOR shall furnish an opinion in its report on these financial statements. 4.3 COMPLETION OF WORK -- AUDITOR shall complete all audit work and provide the Audit Report to COUNTY within one hundred fifty (150) days after the last day of each fiscal year. 4.3. 1 COMPLIANCE REPORT: The AUDITOR shall prepare and submit to the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County a report on compliance with laws and regulations. The report on compliance shall include all material instances of noncompliance. All nonmaterial instances of noncompliance shall be reported in a separate management letter, which shall be referred to in the report on compliance. At the conclusion of the audit field work, the independent certified public accountant shall discuss with the head of each county agency and the Board of County Commissioners, all of the auditor's comments which will be included in the report for the areas within their responsibility. If the officer is not available to discuss the auditor's comments, their discussion is presumed when the comments are delivered in writing to his office. The officer's written statement of explanation or rebuttal concerning the auditor's comments, including corrective action to be taken, shall be filed with the governing body of the COUNTY within twenty (20) days of the delivery of the financial audit report. 4.3.2 The AUDITOR shall communicate in a letter to management any reportable conditions found during the audit. A reportable condition shall be defined as a significant deficiency in the design or operation of the internal control structure, which could adversely affect the organization's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data consistent with the assertions of management in the financial statements. 4.3.3 A tentative separate letter of comments and recommendations shall be delivered to the Director of Finance and Administration for the COUNTY'S report. The Director of Finance and Administration of the COUNTY and each separate officer as noted shall forward to the AUDITOR a written response to the letter no later than two (2) weeks following receipt of same. Failure of the Director of Finance and Administration and each separate officer to so respond within two (2) weeks shall be deemed acceptance by the COUNTY and each separate officer of the draft as submitted. The COUNTY and each of the separate officers as may be required and AUDITOR may meet and discuss differences of fact contained in C,1 0741 the letter within this two-week period. No later than two (2) weeks after receipt of the comments of the COUNTY and responsible officers as maybe required, AUDITOR shall deliver to the Board of County Commissioners. 4.3.4 AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS -- COUNTY agrees that certain books and records may be made available prior to the time when others may be made available and that certain funds may be audited and such audit for those funds completed prior to the time that other funds are so audited and completed. It is contemplated that those funds audited separately and reported separately will be completed and the report furnished as soon as possible. In any event, the completed report shall be furnished to the COUNTY not later than one hundred fifty (150) days after the last day of the fiscal year. 4.3..5 EXTENSION OF TIME -- It is recognized by the parties that the purpose in having the aforesaid one hundred fifty (150) day requirement for the submission of audit reports is to make such reports meaningful and to give the County Commissioners the earliest possible notice concerning any matters raised or revealed by such audit. It is also recognized by the parties that issues arising in the audit may require more time than the one hundred fifty (150) day period. COUNTY agrees that provision must be made for instances during the audit where time extensions will be requested in order to resolve problems that may be revealed in any particular fund or account. However, it is understood and agreed that in the event AUDITOR finds that such one hundred fifty (150) day period is not sufficient for completion of the audit, AUDITOR shall immediately so notify COUNTY and shall request additional time for completion of the audit, setting forth with specificity the facts upon which such request is predicted and the reasons why additional time will be needed. Whether a time extension will be granted is solely at the discretion of COUNTY. It is recognized by the parties that the AUDITOR will need an auditing period after receipt of the Working Trial Balance and supporting schedules. COUNTY agrees to grant AUDITOR an extension of time, if requested by AUDITOR, equal to the number of days after March 1st that the Working Trial Balance and requested schedules are delivered by COUNTY to AUDITOR. 4.4 AUDIT STANDARDS -- Unless higher standards are set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, each audit shall be done in conformity with audit standards, excluding the review of economy and efficiency of operations and program results, set forth in the publications: Government Audit Standards, Comptroller General of the United States, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) , Industry Audit Guide, Audits for State and Local Governmental Units, AICPA standards and procedures, Governmental Accounting Standards Board, Codification, the Single Audit Act of 1984 (Publication No. 98-502) , Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-128, and the provisions of OMB's "Compliance Supplement for Single Audits of Grants to State and Local Governments", 01 .4. '926 Supplement for Single Audits of Grants to State and Local Governments", and auditors' reports on compliance and internal accounting control rendered thereon. Requirements of Federal and State agreements and statutory audit requirements will be conformed with as each may be applicable. 4.5 COOPERATION WITH STATE AUDITOR AND CONSULTING FIRMS -- Where applicable, ANDERSON & WHITNEY, P.C. as the COUNTY'S principal auditors shall coordinate their work and cooperate with the State Auditor of the State of Colorado, and with any and all consulting firms under contract to Weld County. 4.6 IRREGULARITIES -- Should irregularities or other unforeseeable conditions be encountered which might necessitate the extension of the auditing work beyond the scope of normal auditing procedures, the AUDITOR agrees to advise the Board of County Commissioners in writing of the circumstances, and to request an increase in the total fees be made available before significant additional costs are incurred. Any request for additional fees shall be in writing and shall contain a detailed explanation of the unforeseen conditions or irregularities, and why the additional fees are necessary. 4.7 ILLEGAL ACTS -- The AUDITOR is aware that illegal acts may be discovered during the audit. However, because of the concept of reasonable assurance and because the auditor will not perform a detailed examination of all transactions, there is a risk that material errors, irregularities or illegal acts, including fraud or defalcations, may exist and not be detected. The AUDITOR agrees to immediately disclose the discovery of any and all illegal acts to the Board of County Commissioners, and if significant additional work is necessitated, to request that additional fees be made available before significant additional expenses are incurred. Any request for additional fees shall be in writing and shall contain a detailed explanation of why that appropriation is necessary. 4.8 STANDARD OF CARE -- In the performance of the audit, the AUDITOR shall be bound by and shall make the examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. ARTICLE V EXTRA WORK 5. 1 EXTRA WORK TO BE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY COUNTY -- The AUDITOR, upon receipt of a written request from the COUNTY, shall perform such additional auditing services as defined in Article 2.7 as may be required. This may include a review of the efficiency and economy of operations, systems of internal control, operating and management procedures and effectiveness in achieving program results. The purchase of specialized services or extra audit services required by special federal or state reporting requirements shall require submission of a written proposal by the AUDITOR for agreement and approval by COUNTY. Such extra work shall be covered by separate purchase orders. The cost of such specialized services shall be computed and billed in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of this Agreement, except that those services such as the mathematical verification of refunding bond redemption schedules, as well as related services which are normally billed on a per unit basis, may be quoted and billed per unit. ARTICLE VI WORK PAPERS 6. 1 For a period of ten (10) years after completion of any work provided for herein, the AUDITORS shall make its work papers, records, and other evidence and documents relating to such work available for inspection and copying by the COUNTY and by the auditors retained by the COUNTY who succeed ANDERSON & WHITNEY, P.C. to the extent necessary to support the balance set forth in the most recent financial statements of the COUNTY on which the AUDITOR has reported. Any records determined by the County Attorney for Weld County to be public records under Colorado Law, shall be made available to the COUNTY, successor C.P.A. Firms, and to the general public. Any copying done shall be at the expense of the copying party. Other requests for access to such documents will be considered by the AUDITOR, but the AUDITOR has no obligation to grant them. ARTICLE VII COMPENSATION 7.1 MAXIMUM FEE FOR FISCAL 1991 AND 1992 -- AUDITOR has exercised its best efforts in attempting to estimate the time requirements and, based upon that estimate, has established a fee for fiscal 1991, based on its applicable hourly rates, which shall not exceed $58,950.00. Likewise, the fee for fiscal year 1992 shall not exceed $58,950.00 subject to the terms of Article 7.3 following. 7.2 HOURLY FEES -- The following schedule of hourly fees shall apply to all accounting and auditing services done for the term of this contract by the AUDITOR, whether under this Agreement or for extra work requested by the Board of County Commissioners. Partner $75.00 per hour Manager $50.00 per hour Supervisor $30.00 per hour Senior Accountant $30.00 per hour Assistant Accountant $25.00 per hour Non-professional (Report reproductions, etc. ) $25.00 per hour Cr? I '7'1'a 7.3 FEE FOR SECOND THRU FIFTH YEAR'S AUDIT -- After the Audit Report for fiscal year 1991 has been delivered to the COUNTY by the AUDITOR, AUDITOR or COUNTY may request a meeting with the other for the purpose of reviewing the time requirement and related matters affecting the degree of difficulty to be expected in preparing the audit for subsequent fiscal years. Said request shall be in writing and shall fully set forth the reasons and circumstances supporting the request for a change, if any, in the fee provided for in Section 7.1 hereof. The parties agree, however, that the maximum fee for the second year may be increased only upon a showing by the AUDITOR of extreme and unforeseen circumstances. The maximum fee for each year of the balance of the Agreement will be mutually agreed upon and established in an amendment to the Agreement. Fee changes must be submitted by August 1st of each year to COUNTY by the AUDITOR. 7.4 BILLING -- The COUNTY shall cover this Agreement with a purchase order. AUDITOR shall submit a monthly billing for all fees and expenses occurring during the preceding month attributable to the audit against this purchase order. These billings shall reflect the total hours of work performed pursuant to the staff categories listed in Article 7.2. Such billings shall also itemize any authorized reimbursable expense and the task or tasks with which such expense is associated. The statement shall show a summary of fees and expenses with accrual of the total and credits for portions paid previously, and shall allocate the billing costs to the appropriate fund or combination of funds. Each statement shall show the proportion of the guaranteed maximum payment that has been expended though previous billings. 7.5 PAYMENT -- COUNTY agrees to promptly process each monthly statement received from AUDITOR and it shall make its best effort to remit billings within thirty (30) days of receipt of AUDITOR'S monthly statement. 7.6. RECORD KEEPING -- AUDITOR agrees to keep such records and accounts as may be necessary in order to record complete and correct entries as to personnel hours charged and any expenses for which AUDITOR expects to be reimbursed. Such books and records will be available at all reasonable times for examination and audit by COUNTY. 7.7 NO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR EXPENSES -- The AUDITOR shall not be reimbursed for any travel, per diem, photo copying, telephone bills, or related expenses unless incurred at the specific request of the COUNTY. 7.8 COMPENSATION FOR EXTRA AUDITING SERVICES -- Compensation to the AUDITOR for extra auditing services shall be based upon the hourly rates provided in Article 7.2 above, and shall be subject to the other provisions of this Article. ARTICLE VIII GENERAL 8.1 NO ASSIGNMENT BY AUDITOR -- This Agreement, or any interest herein, shall not be assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered, under any circumstances by AUDITOR. However, the Agreement shall run to the COUNTY and to any of its successors. 8.2 AUDITOR SHALL BE FAMILIAR WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS -- The AUDITOR shall familiarize themselves with and comply with the provisions of any and all Federal, State and County Orders, Statutes, Ordinance, Charter, Bond Covenants, Administrative Code, Rules and Regulations which may pertain to the work required under this Agreement, including specifically those which pertain to "Conflicts of Interest" and "Employment Discrimination". 8.3 TERMINATION -- It is understood and agreed that this Agreement may be terminated upon thirty (30) days written notice by either party. 8.4 REPRESENTATIVES OF COUNTY -- While the AUDITOR has agreed to communicate periodically with the Board of County Commissioners, it is recognized that questions in the day-to-day conduct of the audit will arise. The Director of Finance and Administration of Weld County is hereby designated as the representative of Weld County through whom all communications pertaining to the day-to-day conduct of the audit shall be addressed. The Director of Finance and Administration may, from time to time, designate one or more o£ his staff to perform all or part of the functions required hereunder and shall so advise the AUDITOR. AUDITOR may communicate directly with Treasurer since he is an independently elected official of the COUNTY. 8.5 REPRESENTATIVES OF AUDITOR -- The AUDITOR shall inform the Director of Finance and Administration of the name of the representative of the AUDITOR to whom matters involving the conduct of the audit shall be addressed. 8.6 ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS -- It is agreed that no deviation from the terms hereof shall be predicated upon any prior representations or agreements whether oral or written. It is further agreed that no modification, amendment or alteration in the terms or conditions contained herein shall be effective unless contained in a written document executed with the same formality and of equal dignity herewith. .-a.y 4 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties above named have executed this agreement on the day of SiejtibliL , 1991. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ATTEST: WELD COUNTY, CO ORADO Clerk to the Board BY: Gor le,rman BY: n,�igy'S �� eputy Clerk CONTRACTOR: ANDE(R/nS/�,OON & WHITNEY,, P.C.� BY: ciq a L,�na,c l&f Hello