THE PROVISION OF EXTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES FOR 2 COUNCIL OWNED COMPANIES

The Council is seeking comprehensive external audit services to commence with the audit of the accounts for the 2026/2027 financial year, ending on 31 March 2027. There will be an initial contract period of two years, with an option to extend for up to a further two years, performance will be monitored through agreed key performance indicators (KPI’s), and the contractor will be formally re-appointed on an annual basis subject to the approval of the Audit and Governance Sub-Committee or the Board of Directors. To be successful your organisation will need to demonstrate how you would provide the services needed in addition to identifying how your organisation can innovate the service delivery model, provide efficiency savings and reduce demands on council resources during the audit process. We invite suitably qualified and experienced firms to tender for the provision of these services. Bidders may submit a tender for one or more of the individual organisations listed in section 2 (i.e. Lot 1 and/or 2). There is also provision for bidders to offer a discount if they are awarded the contracts for both companies. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-King%27s-Lynn:-Accounting%2C-auditing-and-fiscal-services./SJM48FEZ35 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/SJM48FEZ35 West Norfolk Housing Company Ltd (WNHC) aims to focus on meeting the housing needs of those who cannot meet the costs of market priced accommodation by demonstrating flexibility and innovation in its response to the needs arising in West Norfolk. WNHC’s mission is to serve our communities by working closely with the Borough Council to address gaps in provision for those in the greatest housing need, particularly vulnerable homeless households and ensure investment opportunities taken in our area benefit local communities and local services. WNHC is actively involved with a number of developments, that will see an increasing number of affordable housing units become available for occupation. The company currently has a portfolio of 59 properties. WNHC has agreed leasing arrangements with a local Housing Association to undertake management and maintenance on behalf of the company. A formal agreement covering the transfer of affordable housing capital from the council to WNHC is in place. WNHC uses quickbooks as their financial software West Norfolk Property Ltd (WNPL) was established to hold and manage private rented housing units being developed by the Council. WNPL operates in the same manner as any other private sector company, driven by the requirement to produce profits and to operate in a commercial manner. The Council’s rights as a shareholder in WNPL is set out in WNPL's Articles of Association and the Shareholder's Agreement WNPL currently works on a lease model, leasing the properties from the council and is accounted for under IFRS16. There are currently 126 properties within the portfolio. The day to day management of the properties is undertaken by a third-party agent. WNPL uses quickbooks as their financial software