By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Coral Gables has issued a request for proposals seeking to outsource its internal auditing function to a private accounting firm, a move that would place a single external auditor at the center of the city’s financial oversight, risk assessment, and operational review for up to five years.
The request for proposal (RFP) calls for a Florida-licensed CPA firm to serve as the city’s Internal Auditor, responsible for evaluating how City Hall spends money, manages risk, and enforces internal controls across nearly every department. The contract would run for an initial three-year term, with options to extend for two additional years, plus a potential 180-day bridge extension at the city’s discretion.
At stake is not simply a professional services contract, but the framework through which city operations are scrutinized, weaknesses are identified, and corrective actions are tracked.
A broad mandate across City Hall
Under the RFP, the selected firm would be charged with developing annual audit work plans, conducting performance and compliance audits, carrying out citywide risk assessments, and monitoring whether departments address previously identified findings.
The scope spans a wide range of municipal activity, including procurement, payroll, revenue collections, information technology, development services, public works operations, fuel usage, gas card controls, contractual compliance, and land leases. The auditor would also be expected to evaluate internal controls and assess exposure to fraud or operational failure.
Audit plans would be presented annually to the city’s Budget and Audit Advisory Board and the City Manager, with periodic reporting to the City Commission.
Governance structure and reporting lines
The RFP establishes the Internal Auditor as an external professional reporting administratively through the City Manager’s office, rather than as an independent commission-appointed position. While this structure mirrors practices in many municipalities, it places the auditor’s work squarely within the city’s executive framework.
The firm would be required to provide quarterly reports on open audit findings and verify whether departments have implemented corrective measures, giving the auditor ongoing visibility into management follow-through.
Qualifications and staffing requirements
To qualify, firms must demonstrate at least five years of municipal auditing experience, maintain an active Florida CPA license, and provide references from recent government clients. The proposal must identify a Partner-in-Charge, an Audit Manager, and a full-time CPA assigned to Coral Gables, each meeting specific experience thresholds outlined in the RFP.
The city reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to terminate the contract for convenience with 30 days’ notice.
Pricing and contract terms
Compensation would be based on hourly rates, billed monthly according to actual hours worked. Rates would remain fixed for the initial three-year term, with any adjustments during optional extensions capped at five percent annually, subject to city approval. The RFP does not guarantee a minimum number of audit hours.
Timeline and next steps
The city has stipulated that final proposals are required on January 9, 2026. A formal cone of silence is in effect until the City Commission approves an award.
Once proposals are submitted and ranked, the selected firm would assume responsibility for shaping the city’s audit agenda and defining which risks rise to the top of the oversight queue.
What is reviewed and how
Internal auditing rarely draws public attention, yet it plays a decisive role in how governments police themselves. The firm selected under this RFP will influence not only what is reviewed, but how rigorously issues are examined and how persistently problems are followed through.
As Coral Gables moves forward with the selection process, the contract will determine who serves as the city’s internal watchdog—and how independent, thorough, and effective that oversight proves to be.
