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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 RFP Financial Audit: Rudd and Company, proposal RUDD &COMPANYLC c_e tifie''J f:)ubfic accountants I bo,5i1 ess consultants City of Bozeman Proposal r v Professional Audit e Vices for Fiscal ears 2014 — 2015 . 100 W. Rudd & Company, PLLC Scott Holton, CPA, CFE, Partner 3805 Valley Commons Dr. Ste 7 Bozeman, MT 59718 406-585-3393 April 25, 2014 ghlU)y (O'E'Cti 0 fit) y01AILu9d:U re xrRarA arA arA aCrA arA+.rRxrAarA+r arRarAxr.A�r AxrA xrRxvA avRxvRarRar RarR arA xrA arA arAarAa.+A arA arAarA arA+.vA+rAar RarRarRa'rRarAarRar AarRxrA xrA arAarRa Table of Contents Description Page Number • Letter of Transmittal I to 2 • Firm Profile 3 to 6 • Firm Qualifications 7 to 13 • References • Resumes • Scope Section 14 to 22 • Peer Review Letter 23 to 25 • Additional Information 26 to 27 • Compensation 28 to 29 • A Final Word 30 e a __...�_.. ....: _..._ _...m._— . _ —...:_ . � ..... ._............... cei0fied pobhc accountants tmsiness consu tants RUDD&COMPANY. April 25, 2014 City of Bozeman Attn: Stacy Ulmen, City Clerk PO Box 1230 Bozeman MT 59771-1230 Dear Stacy Ulmen: Thank you for the opportunity to present our qualifications to provide professional audit services to City of Bozeman, Montana ("the City") for the fiscal years ending .lune 30, 2014 in accordance with ;government auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the provisions of the federal Single Audit Act of 1984 and U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133. We are committed to providing you with the highest quality service, and we ensure timely, effective and efficient services. We understand your requirements to be the following: -The Firm of certified public accountants must be of widely recognized ability and standing and licensed to practice in the State of Montana. •Firm must be a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and adhere to AICPA professional standards of audit practices and conduct. -Firm must have audited similar governmental units and have the capability of assisting the City in retaining its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. -The audit examination shall result in financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principals for local governments and apply applicable GASB statements including GASB 34. -The audit is to meet the requirements of the Single Audit Act of 1984, as amended in 1996 and the OMB Circular A-133 requirements. -The CPA firm must satisfy the Government Auditing Standards education requirements issued by the GAO. .The auditor must demonstrate compliance with CPE requirements for auditing and governmental accounting. IDAHO FALLS � PEXBURG I DRIGGS BOZEMAN I WEST YELLOWSTONE � HELENA _. ..._...__...................................................._ .................................._ ........_ _ ....... .......... __ ..._.. __.._._,. ..... .. _. _... _. ......_..... _ ................. ..............___ _. ... e_ _ .._ ... e ♦r#r✓Stt✓. rr AtrrArs74trJt 1$s A r$ rit r.✓Rm.R rArr r$.. R s rr arh r r1t rR Will I 1011 rr rr r r r itr R .r r4 ♦ A Rrr AA..A-. all ! 9. a 4 We believe we can meet your needs and exceed your expectations. Included in this proposal, we detail our firm's profile, qualifications, peer review, approach to the engagement, and compensation. We will commit to meeting your timeline with an entrance conference in September each year, financial statements issued by December l,1k each year and an exit conference in January each year. Selecting Rudd & Company, PLLC as your professional audit firm presents important advantages. We will build an in-depth understanding of the City and its associated funding. We offer an experienced audit team that will provide quality service in an efficient manner with realistic fees that will include proactive value-added advice and recommendations. We hope our proposal conveys our commitment to the City, and we look forward to building a relationship with you. Please feel free to contact Scott Holton, partner, at 3805 Valley Commons Drive, Suite 7, or (406) 585-3393 or sholton@ruddco.com. Sincerely, Rudd & Company, PLLC 2 Firm Profile • Rudd & Company is a regional accounting firm founded in 1963 in Rexburg, Idaho, and has offices in Montana and Idaho including locations in Bozeman, Helena, West Yellowstone, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Driggs. • Our audit practice makes up approximately 30% of our firm's billable services, with tax services comprising 55%. The remaining 15% is made up of write-up management services and business consulting. • Our audit clients range in size and complexity and we provide audit services to several organizations including governmental entities, not-for-profit organizations, non-public businesses, employee benefit plans, and financial institutions. State and Local Agric Iture construction Governments 4% 12% Service Entities----. Employee Benefit 4 Plans 25% % School Districts- I/� � //r„ \ 11% Other For-Profit Retail Entities 5% Health Care 2% 1% HOA Non-Profit 6% Organizations Manufacturing 28% 1% 3 Firm Profile • Currently, we have nine partners, eleven managers, eighteen staff accountants, and nineteen para-professionals serving clients in our six offices. Of the nine partners, three are in charge of the firm's audit practice. • Your engagement team will be based out of the Bozeman office. The Bozeman office has nine certified public accountants: two partners, four managers and three staff accountants. The remaining Bozeman staff consists of one professional staff, three para-professionals and two administrative assistants. • All staff members will be supervised by the Bozeman audit partner, Scott Holton, to ensure your needs are being met. • Our service history and our knowledge are the lead indicators of the service you will receive. The engagement team will be responsive and dedicated to your needs now, and in the future. • Rudd & Company is a member of the AlCPXs Governmental Audit Quality Center. • We utilize an internal system of quality control that includes a Quality Control Document that requires internal audit quality inspections during years that we are not subject to external peer reviews. An external peer review is completed every three years as required by Governmental Auditing Standards. 4 Firm Profile • Rudd & Company operates a sizable audit practice. Our audit specialists are fully trained in the most up-to-date audit procedures. Our firm believes a strong technical background is essential to assuring that our audit and accounting services are provided in the most proficient manner possible and in accordance with the highest professional standards. • We recognize timely completion of the audit is important to you. Our audit team gives first priority to the needs of our audit clients, regardless of the time of the year. We will provide experienced staff on your engagement, who are dedicated to your audit. • If we become aware of staff changes, we promise to notify you immediately and obtain your approval for new staff before they are added to the engagement. If there is a substantial change in our audit staff, (i.e. audit manager, managing audit partners, etc.) prior to or during the audit, we understand the City reserves the right to void the contract. • We are not expecting to need or use, any outside contractors to assist with this engagement. • All members of the audit engagement team undergo extensive continuing education in both attestation, specifically Yellowbook, and tax to ensure they are well-rounded in their expertise. Their continuing education in complies with the requirements set in Government Auditing Standards. • We utilize an electronic auditing software package (Engagement CS), which is integrated with the nationally recognized PPC audit intelligence and methodology. I eiiwi� 5 V a -t� irm Profile Client Service Strategy • While quality can be measured in independent surveys, it is won one client at a time. Providing high quality service is the overriding objective of every assignment we undertake. It is not a supplement to our technical expertise, but rather an integral part of the way we work. • Quality is the cornerstone of our strategy and is embedded in our team approach which is focused on our clients, our people, and our firm. • Our client strategy is to build our practice by concentrating on quality clients, regardless of their size, who will require our specialized skills and resources in their demanding business environment. • Our people strategy is to hire and retain the best people and support them with training, coaching, and opportunities so they are fully equipped to deliver the best client service on a continual basis. • Our firm strategy is to continually refresh our policies and procedures, supporting our professionals to foster an environment where the highest level of integrity is expected and risks are identified and managed. • Our service history and our knowledge are the lead indicators of the service you will receive. The engagement team will be responsive and dedicated to your needs now, and in the future. 6 Firm l ificat ions References Rudd and Company performs several other governmental audits that are similar in size to the City of Bozeman and all include financial statements prepared in accordance with GASB #34. Below are current audit clients that will positively confirm the level of service that you will obtain with us. Manhattan School District Engagement Partner: Scott Holton Contact: Ann Heisler Phone: (406) 284-6460 Address: PO Box 425, Manhattan, NIT 59741 Scope of Work: Governmental Financial Statement Audit Years Audited by Rudd & Company: 2011 to 2013, engaged for 2014 Total Hours: Approximately 200 per year Gardiner School District Engagement Partner: Scott Holton Contact: Tamara Cunningham Phone: (406) 848-7563 Address: 510 Stone Street, Gardiner, MT 59030 Scope of Work: Governmental Financial Statement Audit and A-133 Compliance Audit Years Audited by Rudd & Company: 2011 to 2013, engaged for 2014 Total Hours: Approximately 280 per year 7 Firm Qual ificat ions R1.0 ldp esumes Below is our team of experienced certified public accountants that will be assigned to your engagements. The following lists the partners and managers who will oversee the audit engagement.. Scott Holton Brad Reed Engagement Engagement Partner Quality Control CPA, +CFE Partner CPA Julie ost+elecky Jen Nord Engagement Audit Manager Manager CPA, CMA CPA, CVA 8 t � fl9vv Scott A. Holton, CPA, CFE Engagement Partner ,a r x N Engagement Role • Overall engagement management and partner review of the audit. Firm Experience • Lead partner on all audits performed by the Montana offices. • Sixteen years experience in public accounting, 11 years with Rudd & Company and 5 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC as an audit manager.. Professional Experience • Scott has extensive experience with governmental audits, non-profit audits, employee benefit plan audits, and for-profit audits. • Currently, the lead partner on four governmental audits. • Scott is a CFE, which means he is trained to investigate and audit fraud related risks in all sizes of entities. • Committed and experienced in managing and coordinating audits and fostering a smooth and seamless transition between audit firms. Professional Licensure and Associations • Licensed CPA in the states of Montana and Alaska • Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) • Member of the AICPA • Member of the Montana Society of CPAs • Member of the MSU COP Accounting Advisory Council, Past Chair • Treasurer of the United Way of Gallatin County RUDD ' COMPANY 9 Brad Reed, CPA Engagement Quality Control Partner 111:00MENEM I oq Engagement Role a Engagement quality control review of audit engagement. Firm Experience • Lead partner on all audits performed by the Rexburg, Idaho office. • Thirty-three years experience in public accounting. Professional Experience • Brad has extensive experience with governmental audits, non-profit audits, employee benefit plan audits and for-profit audits. • Conducts peer reviews for various firms in the Western United States. • Currently, the lead partner on nine governmental audits, including two cities and one county. Professional Licensure and Associations • Licensed CPA in the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming • Member of the AICPA • Member of the Idaho Society of CPAs • Former member of the Peer Review Committee for the Idaho Society of CPAs • Former President of the SE Chapter of the Idaho Society of CPAs • Completed the Certificate of Achievement Program for Governmental Accounting and Auditing COMPANY,RUDD 10. i. Julie Kostelecky, CPA., CVA Engagement anagen r ra Engagement Role • Day-to-day engagement management, completion of complex audit areas, including A-133 compliance audit, and review of core audit procedures. Firm Experience • Engagement manager on ten audits performed out of the Bozeman office, including two governmental audits. • Eleven years experience in public accounting, four with Rudd & Company and seven with another regional accounting firm. Professional Experience • Julie has extensive experience with governmental audits, non-profit audits, and for-profit audits. • Audit experience includes complex investment pools, internal controls, system design, and financial statement analysis. • Julie is a CVA, which means she is trained in business valuations and litigation support. Professional Licensure and Associations • Licensed CPA in the state of Montana • Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) • Member of the AICPA • Member of the Montana Society of CPAs, serves on Membership Committee and is former committee chair • Member of the Bozeman Chapter of CPAs ,, 11 jen Nord'., CPA, CMA �t Audit a ager Engagement Role • Planning of the audit, including internal controls, completion of core financial statement and state compliance audit procedures, and drafting of the CAFR. Firm Experience • Manager on fourteen audits performed out of the Bozeman office, including two governmental audits. • Six years experience in public accounting, four with Rudd & Company and two with another regional accounting firm. Professional Experience • Jen has extensive experience with governmental audits, non-profit audits, employee benefit plan audits, and for-profit audits. • Audit experience includes internal controls, system design, ratio analysis, and financial statement analysis. • Jen is a CMA, which means she is trained in internal controls, budgeting, and forecasting, Professional Licensure and Associations • Licensed CPA in the state of Montana • Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA) • Member of the AICPA • Member of the Montana Society of CPAs • Member of the Bozeman Chapter of CPAs I*&Ikj� RUDD . , (11 12 Additional Staff on Engagement Two staff members who are licensed CPAs in the State of Montana will also be on the engagement team: Aimee Hokanson and Elizabeth Coughlin. Both Aimee and Elizabeth are Yellow Book certified and licensed to practice in the State of Montana. Their resumes are not included in this proposal package as they are not management levet, but are available upon request. 13 Scope Section • Our audit approach is a top-down process that includes an assessment of audit risk by the partners and managers during the planning phase of the engagement. Our team will work directly with the City staff to document our understanding of the City, its activities, and its financial statement and compliance risks. • This risk-sensitive approach focuses our efforts on areas that are more prone to misstatement than others. Part of this assessment includes a thorough review of current accounting and reporting developments, both in your entity and in other similar governments. • The risk assessment is tailored to address the unique nature of a governmental entity, state compliance requirements, A-133 requirements and internal control. As we recognize intricacies in governmental entities differ from those of for-profit companies, we will draw on our experience auditing governmental entities to address these risks. • Our audit process is broken down into seven areas: • Planning • Internal control evaluation • A-133 Compliance planning and testing • State Compliance planning and testing • Fieldwork • Concluding the audit • Deliverables 14 Scope Section Planning the Aud it • Planning the audit consists of the following: Conducting planning meeting with appropriate City personnel to determine timeline for interim testing, fieldwork and availability of personnel. • Discussing with the City's personnel and documenting our understanding of your systems. • Determining major funds based on revenues and total assts of each individual fund and in aggregate. • Calculating aggregate and fund level materiality based on asset or revenue values, including calculating performance materiality and trivial misstatement values to evaluate adjustments • Establishing and evaluating risk levels based upon our understandings, major fund determination and materiality levels. • Determining the nature, extent, and timing of testing financial statement areas including sampling, analytics, and substantive testing. • Interviewing key management and employees. • Discussing the risks of fraud related to various audit areas with selected employees. • Reading minutes of the City Commission to gain an understanding of activities that occurred during the year. • Reviewing the annual budgets. 15 Scope Section Internal Control Evaluation Internal Control Evaluation consists of the following: • Review of fiscal policies and procedures of City as provided by City's accounting staff. • Discussions with above mentioned City staff to gain an understanding of the accounting procedures and controls in place at the City. • Determination of areas of controls that require detail testing in order to gain assurance over operational effectiveness of control. • Determination of the nature, extent, and timing of testing of internal controls. • Establishing audit sample selections for internal control testing based on populations provided by the City and PPC sampling methodology. PPC mythology includes the following factors in determining sample size: • Objective of control • Population size • Frequency of control • Control risk • Expected deviations • Determination of reliance on controls and operational effectiveness based on testing completed and utilizing this information in the planning and risk assessment of the financial statement audit. • Perform in-depth review of City's internal control procedures and internal audits of one area selected by the City. 16 Scope Section 0 r" A- 133 Compliance iesting MEMM! MEMO= NONEM M MEMEMEMEMEM • A-1.33 Compliance testing consists of the following:. • Obtaining the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards ("SEFA" from City personnel. • Determining if the City is considered a low risk auditee. • Determination of the Type A and Type B programs based on the A-133 compliance requirements. • Determination of the major programs based on the SEFA and communicating those programs to City personnel. • Discuss compliance requirements and procedures with appropriate City personnel based on major programs. • Plan compliance testing based on A-1.33 compliance supplements and grant documents. • Communicate testing requirements to City personnel to determine populations of transactions that will require testing. • Complete scoping of population for compliance testing based on PPC methodology and A-133 requirements to gain adequate assurance over compliance. 17 Section Scope State Compliance • State Compliance testing consists of the following. • Review of State of Montana Compliance Supplements for counties. • Determination of which compliance supplements are material and significant to the operations of the City of Bozeman. • Discuss compliance requirements and procedures with appropriate City personal.. • Plan compliance testing based State of Montana's compliance supplements. • Communicate testing requirements to City personnel to determine populations of transactions that will require testing. • Complete testing of State of Montana compliance regulations simultaneously with.A-133 audit and financial statement audit. 18 Scope Section Fieldwork MEN= • Fieldwork consists of the following: • Completion of audit programs in all major risk areas. • Determination of the sample size selections based on PPC methodology which includes the following factors: population size, individual significant transactions, materiality, frequency of transaction, risk of material misstatement and other procedures risk. • Testing of financial statement accounts and balances based on risk assessment completed during planning. • Application of a non-statistical sampling approach in many of our auditing procedures. • Completion of analytical procedures over revenues and expenses on the fund level and aggregate level, including by not limited to: ratio analysis and budget to actual. • Completion of analytical procedures over the government wide financial statement account balances based on government wide risk assessment. 19 Scope Section Concluding the Audit • Concluding the audit consists of the following: • Reviewing all audit procedures performed by our firm personnel. This review is completed by a manager and a partner to ensure the procedures performed address risks identified. • Establishing a list of any management comments that need to be conveyed. • Discussing all proposed audit adjustments with the City's personnel. • Evaluating any passed adjustments. • Requesting representation in the form of written correspondence from City officials. • Requesting representation from the City's attorney about any contingencies, litigation, or commitments of which they may be aware. • Preparation of the entire CAFR, including government-wide and fund level financial statements, the combining and combined financial statements, and schedule of Federal Financial Assistance, notes and schedules. • Submission of the draft financial statements at least two weeks prior to the final report date to the City. • Supplying a written audit report, along with other required reports on internal control and compliance. 20 4-14 0-14 0 Ncope Sc%;Ction Concluding the Audit • Rudd and Company believes up-front and constant communication of any and all audit problems is necessary to obtain the level of service the City expects and that Rudd and Company expects to deliver. • If any potential audit problems arise during any stage of the audit, communication between the engagement partner and the necessary City personnel will occur. • Through communication, Rudd & Company will be able to provide the City with the level of service they deserve as an audit client. The engagement partner will be available at any time during the stages of the audit and also after the audit is completed if any additional problems may occur. 21 Section Scope Staffing Levels Planning the Audit Internal Control Partner — 8 hours Partner — 4 hours Manager — 15 hours Manager — 15 hours Staff — 10 hours Staff — 25 hours iiance State Compliance A-133 COMPIO Partner — to hours Partner — 2 hours Manager — 3o hours Manager — 8 hours Staff — o hours Staff — 9 hours Fieldwork Deliverables Partner — xo hours Partner — 2 hours Manager — V hours Manager — 20 hours Staff — fro hours Staff — to hours 22 Peer Rev iew OEM: I= MINE • We affirm that since inception we have received "pass" peer review ratings and do not have a history of substandard work. • Our most recent peer review was completed on August 8, 2013 and is included on the next two pages of this proposal. 23 jCPk ISCPA Peer Review Program AICPA Peer Review Program lAr.�rmr,vs,�ed v,,om?�ciov)sx".Xery of GFIAs p December 6, 2013 Blayne McArthur, CPA Rudd & Company PILLC 124 E Main St Rexburg, ID 83440 Dear Mr. McArthur: It is my pleasure to notify you that on November 15, 2013 the Idaho Peer Review Committee accepted the report on the most recent system peer review of your firm. The due date for your next review is September 30, 2016, This is the date by which all review documents should be completed and submitted to the administering entity. As you know, the report had a peer review rating of pass, The Committee asked me to convey its congratulations to the firm. Sincerely, 41c, Tracy K. Poe, Manager Peer Review Program cc-, Robert K. Bowen Firm Number.- 10091000 Review Number 347796 Letter ID846371 24 r Ma MEN,, — 1 111,11 ,1 N! M !, H tf�ANSEN,BARNE"iT&MAMELL,K C ol,li ied C%uebho AmmriCm¢, SYSTEM REVIEW REPORT August 8,2013 To the Partners Rudd fir, Company PLLC And the Peer Review Cotruxnittee of the Idaho Society of CPAs We have reviewed the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Rudd & Company PLLC (the firm) in effect for the year ended March 31, 2013. Cour peer review was conducted in accordance with the Standards for Performing and Reporting on Peer Reviews established by the Peer Review Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. As a part of our peer review, we considered reviews by regulatory entities, if applicable, in determining the nature and extent of our procedures. The firm is responsible for designing a system of quality control and complying with it to provide the firm reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with applicable professional standards in all material respects. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the design of the system of quality control and the firm's compliance therewith based on our review. The nature, objectives, scope, limitations of and the procedures performed in a System Review are described in the standards at www.aiepa.org/prsummary, As required by the standards, engagements selected for review included engagements performed under Government Auditing Standards; audits of employee benefit plans, and audits performed under FDICIA. In our opinion, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Rudd&Company PLLC in effect for the year ended March 31, 2013, has been suitably designed and complied with to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with applicable professional standards in all material respects. Firms can receive a rating of ,puss, pass with rl(ficiency(ies) or fail. Rudd& Company PLLC has received a peer review rating of pass. BAKER. T1LL.Y a �,�a.�:n•r.i w•�eh,�a,x n,gni..r,n,rY,ws° 5 Traad CentLr,Srrt v'750,"salt lake city,Q.Aa«i 61lLC'1 IL ,,8 EN 94CRNn 1 IONAL Accsrro.mng 0,m igh.rRoard "E'EI r`A(71 22 [AX M 532..7944 WNW-N)MCT.roW crr, ADDING VALUE � NOT('0TfPJJ,X[J`V 25 Additional Information Aud it Timeline Rudd & Company, PLLC proposes the following timeline for the completion of the audit. This schedule will be developed in conjunction with the City. The schedule will be approved prior to audit work commencing. Entrance conference with Audit Committee September 2014/2015 Audit planning and fieldwork begins September 2014/2015 Meet with Director & Controller to, review audit findings and recommendations December 1, 2014/2015 Provide draft of CAFR December 1, 2014/2015 Deliver final CAFR December 15, 2014/2015 Present final reports to Audit Committee and City Commission January 2015/2016 26 Additional Information Assurances The audit will be conducted in accordance with: * Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) * Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the U.S. 2003 Revision (GAO Standards) * AICPA Audit & Accounting Guide-Audits of State and Local Governmental Units (ASLG­U) * The Single Audit Act of 1984, as amended by the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and the Federal Office of Management and Budget's Circular A-13 3, if applicable. • Rudd & Company is committed to being knowledgeable of the provisions of any and all Federal, State, and City orders, statutes, ordinances, Charter, bond covenants, and administrative rules and regulations that may pertain to the work required in the engagement. • The audit contract will be between Rudd & Company, the City, and the Department of Commerce and we will comply with the terms of this engagement listed by the City. • Rudd & Company, PLL " will meet the expected timeline of the City of Bozeman and communicate all staffing changes to the City in a timely manner for approval. • Rudd & Company, PLLC will draft the entire CAFR and provide a draft to the City two weeks prior to issuance for review. 27 %-,ompensafton The following outlines the estimated number of hours and the all- inclusive maximum fee for the audit engagement for fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Proposed Proposed Year Hours Fee Audit 201.4 278 $35,640 Audit 2015 278 $36,700 Our commitment to competitive fees include the following assumptions: • No surprise billings. • Billing arrangements for special projects are agreed upon in advance based on agreed rates. • Value for services rendered. ® We will always work with you to find the best outcome for both parties. • The City reserves the right to negotiate for two additional fiscal years to be audited. 28 k_,,ompensation If additional work arises due to changes in the City's business during the contract period, we will discuss a change in engagement with management. If this work is substantially different from the original scope of the engagement, we will discuss a change in fee at that time. However general questions and consulting throughout the year are included at no change in our overall fee. In addition, Rudd & Company, PLLC understands that we will not be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses. Our standard hourly rates for each staff classification are the following: • Partner $225 per hour • Manager $135 per hour • Staff $90 per hour We believe that our proposed fees are reasonable given the scope and nature of the City's operations and audit requirements. If you have comments, questions or would like additional information regarding our proposed fees, we welcome the opportunity to discuss them with you, as it is our ultimate goal to build an open and honest relationship with you. 29 Final Word • We truly believe that we can provide the City with the highest quality professional audit services. • Our reputation for professional quality and integrity is essential to providing the optimal level of services to our clients and is the cornerstone of our success. • Our related experience with similar organizations will enable us to "hit the ground running" and allow for the least disruption possible to your workplace. We hope you will evaluate our information carefully and please feel free to contact us should you need additional information. We have established a web site providing general information about our firm, our people, and the services we offer at www.ruddco.com. • We look forward to building a lasting relationship with the City and hope to show you that Rudd & Company is a reputable accounting firm. RUDD COMPANY,,- 30