REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PROVION OF EXTERNAL AUDIT

Background
African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is an international conservation organization formed in 1961. Together with the people of Africa, AWF works to ensure that the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AWF has field offices in nine African countries: (Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Uganda) and is registered in the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, and South Africa.

AWF intends to procure the services of a qualified and experienced professional external auditor to offer external audit services for AWF Uganda office for the financial year ended:

30th June 2013
30th June 2014
30th June 2023
AWF follows Generally Accepted Accounting Practices. The books are kept using a centralized accounting system, Serenic Navigator (based on Microsoft Dynamic NAV), which is accessible to all offices real-time. Transactions are initiated by staff through a web-based accounting portal based on the Microsoft SharePoint platform. Staff time records are kept using the Unanet system, which is also web-based. AWF’s procurement, treasury, grants, and general ledger accounting functions are centralized in Nairobi and DC offices. While field offices all house local finance personnel to address day-to-day needs, the Nairobi and DC based staff transact whenever practicable. AWF’s banking, for the most part, is divided between two institutions - Bank of America in the United States, and Standard Chartered Bank in Africa. The organization will be migrating to a new accounting system in 2024, but the system will not be operational prior to FY 2025. AWF has selected UltiPro as its new Human Resources Information System (HRIS) which will eventually replace Unanet for time & attendance.

2. Objective of the Audit

The objectives of the service required will be for the auditor to:

Confirm that the books of accounts provide the basis for preparation of the financial statements and that they are established to reflect the financial statements and
Confirm that AWF maintains adequate internal controls and supporting documentation for its transactions.
Express a professional opinion on the financial statements of the AWF on whether the statements present fairly the financial position at the end of each financial year.
Confirm that AWF prepares in accordance with accounting principles, standards and all relevant laws and regulations.
Confirm that AWF’s financial statements presents fairly its financial position and the results of its financial operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
Confirm that AWF has an internal control structure and other control systems to provide reasonable assurance that it is adequately managing its financial affairs.
Confirm that AWF has complied with applicable laws and regulations that may have a material impact on the financial statements.
3. Preparation of Annual Financial Statements

a) AWF’s responsibility

The responsibility for the preparation of financial statements including adequate disclosure lies with the AWF. AWF is also responsible for the selection and application of accounting policies and preparing the Financial Statements in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) or other internationally recognized Accounting Standards.

b) Auditor’s responsibility

The Auditor’s responsibility is to form and express opinions on the financial statements. The Auditor will carry out the audit of the Financial Statements in accordance with the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and as part of the audit process, the auditor may request from the AWF a written confirmation concerning representations made in connection with the audit.

4. Scope of Audit Work

The primary focus of the audit work is to examine the AWF’s financial records in accordance with International Standards of Auditing (ISA) and International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) or any other relevant International Accounting Sufficient audit evidence should be gathered to substantiate in all material respects the accuracy of financial statements or any other findings.
These Terms of Reference address audit requirements for the audit of financial statements of the AWF covering the period from;