Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint an independent external auditor to conduct a financial audit of the Eco-DRR project’s inception period (6 months) for the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). The audit aims to:

• Provide an opinion on the fair presentation of the project’s financial position and cash flows in accordance with acceptable accounting standards.
• Assess expenditure against approved budget lines and scope of activities.
• Ensure compliance with financial covenants related to the funding agreement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
• Deliver a management letter highlighting observations, internal control weaknesses, and recommendations.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Auditing the financial statements of the Eco-DRR project for the initial 6 months.
• Reviewing amounts up to the period, broken down by each Funded Activity.
• Verifying income received and expenditure incurred in line with the project’s funding and budget.
• Providing a management letter with findings on accounting records, systems, internal controls, and procurement processes.
• Conducting the audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and the South African GRAP standards for public sector entities.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for the tender include:

• Provision of a detailed quotation outlining the approach, methodology, and timeline.
• Demonstration of relevant experience in external audits, especially for public sector or donor-funded projects.
• Qualifications and experience of the audit team, including the engagement partner, senior auditors, and clerks.
• Compliance with SANBI’s procurement procedures, including submission of mandatory documents such as SBD forms, CSD report, CVs, and certifications.
• Ability to conduct the audit remotely, with an understanding of the scope and expenditure involved.

Skills Requirements

The successful service provider must possess:

• Qualified auditors with CA (SA) certification and IRBA membership.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience for the engagement partner, with relevant experience in public sector or international donor-funded audits.
• Proven track record in auditing projects of similar scope, complexity, and nature.
• Strong understanding of South African public sector accounting standards (GRAP) and international auditing standards (ISA).
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear reports and management letters.
• Capacity to deliver the audit remotely within the specified timeline and budget.