Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified service provider to deliver comprehensive financial management and accounting services for Cape Agulhas Municipality over a three-year period. The services aim to enhance municipal expertise in preparing GRAP/mSCOA compliant Annual Financial Statements (AFS), ensure legislative compliance, facilitate skills transfer to municipal staff, and support the municipality’s strategic financial reporting and asset management needs.

Scope

The scope encompasses providing specialist project accounting services, including:

• Preparation of GRAP/mSCOA compliant Annual Financial Statements up to 30 June 2028.
• Skills transfer and capacity building for municipal officials.
• Implementation, review, and support for financial policies, asset unbundling, land reconciliation, water and electricity meter asset management, and related asset verification activities.
• Assistance with compliance to accounting standards, MFMA, MSCOA, and POPIA requirements.
• Supporting audit processes, including review of disclosures, impairment assessments, and audit readiness.
• Provision of ad-hoc financial and asset management services as required.

The services will be rate-based, with flexibility for the municipality to amend requirements as needed, and will include support for the municipality’s current Vesta/Phoenix financial system.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Provision of experienced personnel, including senior managers, accountants, engineers, and support staff, with specific expertise in municipal GRAP, MSCOA, asset management, and related standards.
• Delivery of detailed reviews and assessments aligned with GRAP standards, MFMA, MSCOA circulars, and other relevant regulations.
• Implementation of asset unbundling, land reconciliation, and water/electricity meter asset register activities, including physical verification, GIS integration, and technical asset data management.
• Skills transfer through training sessions, SOP development, and ongoing support to municipal staff.
• Adherence to key project milestones and deadlines for financial policy updates, year-end planning, and audit submissions.
• Use of CaseWare or equivalent software for preparing Annual Financial Statements.

Skills Requirements

The tender must demonstrate capacity with the following skills and experience:

• Two senior managers with a minimum of 10 years municipal GRAP experience and 5 years MSCOA experience, with Chartered Accountant qualifications.
• Two senior accountants with at least 5 years municipal GRAP experience and MSCOA familiarity, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting or equivalent.
• Engineers with at least 10 years municipal asset management experience, including land reconciliation, unbundling, and GIS integration skills.
• Support engineers with 3+ years asset verification and condition assessment experience.
• Support staff capable of supporting asset data collection, physical verification, and technical asset management.
• Personnel with proven experience in municipal financial systems, preferably CaseWare, and in providing training and skills transfer.
• Expertise in compliance with POPIA, VAT, MFMA, MSCOA, and other relevant legislative frameworks.
• Ability to deliver on detailed project milestones, including land and asset reconciliation, meter asset management, and financial reporting.