Audit Engagement 2026

This is a Request for Proposal ("RFP") for an independent certified public accounting firm (the "proposer") to provide external independent auditing services for Beaufort County, Beaufort, South Carolina (the "County") beginning with fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 through fiscal year ending June 30, 2031.

An Audit Selection Committee (the “Committee”) will be selected to make a recommendation to the Finance Committee and County Council. It is anticipated that the Committee will review the proposals received in response to this RFP and will make recommendations to the Board for the selection of the independent certified public accounting firm. It is also anticipated that, in performing its duties, the awarded independent certified public accounting firm will have some interaction with the Committee and Council. This interaction will include, but not be limited to, reviewing the scope of services, discussing the results of the audit, discussing the findings presented in the management letter issued by the firm and the responses of the County's management thereto and other matters as determined by the Committee.

All of Beaufort County’s Comprehensive Financial Reports can be viewed online https://beaufortcountysc.gov/finance/ACFR/index.html

General Information about the County

Beaufort County is located in the southeast corner of South Carolina. The County is home to the historic City of Beaufort and the popular resort community of Hilton Head Island, as well as three military bases. It is also situated midway between the cities of Charleston and Savannah.

These unique qualities have attracted a large influx of new residents over the last two decades, making Beaufort County one of the fastest growing counties in South Carolina. The County employs approximately 1,500 employees and administers an annual operating general fund budget ranging between $199 million and $210 million, currently.
The County has an automated accounting system named MUNIS. All personnel in the Finance Department have access to the system through the organizational network. Access to the computer system will be made available to the auditors through the Finance Department, which is responsible for maintenance, programming, and operation of the system. The general ledger, accounting, payroll, accounts payable, lease management, cash receipts, and capital assets are automated.

The County operates under fund accounting based on Governmental Accounting Standards Board Pronouncements.

The County’s current auditors are Mauldin and Jenkins, Macon, GA.

The County is the recipient of various state and federal grants. The County averages federal expenditures of $35 million per year.

The County does not have an Internal Audit Department. The Finance Department personnel, including the CFO and staff will be available to assist with the preparation of account analyses, schedules, etc. The CFO is a licensed CPA in South Carolina.

Operating budgets are maintained in the automated accounting system. Amendments and transfers are documented within the system as well. The automated accounting system, Munis, uses a program called Tyler Content Manager (TCM) that stores all supporting documentation for transactions within the system.