Accounting Auditing Expertise and Technical Advisory Services

The California State Controller's Office (SCO) is soliciting a contractor to provide accounting auditing expertise and technical advisory services for the Division of Audits, with proposals due September 30, 2026. The engagement centers on a comprehensive assessment of the Division's compliance with the California Constitution and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), coupled with recommendations for organizational structure, staffing levels and classifications, training needs, and risk-based audit approaches.

The contractor must ensure SCO adheres to rigorous constitutional and GAGAS compliance standards, meets best-in-class quality benchmarks, employs best practice models, and establishes relevant performance metrics for assessment. The scope encompasses re-imagining the external audit function to modernize operations while maintaining professional auditing standards.

Firm minimum qualifications require a current active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license issued by the California Board of Accountancy or equivalent authorization to practice public accountancy in another U.S. state or jurisdiction, and if required by California law, a current Out-of-State Firm Registration (OFR). Proposers must demonstrate at least 10 years of experience performing attest services in establishing or enhancing auditing functions using GAGAS requirements for state government accounting or auditing. All experience must be documented through projects with external clients who can serve as references; internal clients, classified or confidential projects, and those under non-disclosure agreements are not acceptable. Key staff members must satisfy minimum qualifications in professional experience, education, and certifications, including CPA or Certified Government Auditing Manager (CGAM) credentials and demonstrated expertise in government auditing and organizational assessments. Proposers who fail to provide sufficient descriptions of compliance with firm minimum qualifications may be deemed nonresponsive and rejected. Prior to using a current SCO employee as a reference, proposers must contact SCOBids@sco.ca.gov to verify the employee is not a member of the evaluation team.