HomeMy Public PortalAboutNowlen Agmt 2017NH NOWLEN, HOLT & MINER, P.A.
Q: CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS EVERETTB. NOWLEN(19a 19X4), CPA
R EDWARD T NOLT, CPA
WILLIAM S. MINER, RETIRED, CPA
ROBERT W. HENDRIX, JR.CPA
WEST PALM BEACH OFFICE JANET R. BARICEVICH,, CPA
NORTHBRIDGE CENTRE TERRY L MORTON, JR., CPA
515 N. FLAGLER DRIVE, SURE 1700 N. RONALD BENNI=,, CVA, ABV. CFF, CPA
POST OFFICE BOX 337 ALEXIA O. VARGA. CFE. CPA
EDWARD T. HOLT JR., PRE, CPA
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33403-0307 - BRIAN J. BRESCIA, CFP, CPA
TELEPHONE (561) 659.3060
FAX (561) 8354]678
WWW.NHMCPA.COM
MARK J. SYMAMR, CFE. CPA
February 5 2017 RYAN M. SHORE, CFP, CPA
C.
KI KI61PAN, CPA
> WIWAM O. (ER, CPA
The Honorable Mayor, Members of the Town BELLE GLADE OFFICE
333 S.E. 2nd STREET
Commission, and Town Manager POST OFFICE BOX 338
BELLE GLADE, FLORIDA 33430-338
Town of Gulf Stream TELEPHONE (561) 898-8812
100 Sea Road FAX (561) 896-6248
Gulf Stream, FL 33483
We are pleased to confirm our understanding of the services we are to provide the Town of Gulf Stream,
Florida for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2018, and 2019. We will audit the financial statements
of the governmental activities, the business -type activities, and each major fund including the related
notes to the financial statements, which collectively comprise the basic financial statements of the Town
of Gulf Stream, Florida as of and for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Accounting
standards generally accepted in the United States of America provide for certain required supplementary
information (RSI), such as management's discussion and analysis (MD&A), to supplement the Town of
Gulf Stream, Florida's basic financial statements. Such information, although not a part of the basic
financial statements, is required. by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board who considers it to
be an essential part of financial reporting for placing the basic financial statements in an appropriate
operational, economic, or historical context. As part of our engagement, we will apply certain limited
procedures to the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida's RSI in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America. These limited procedures will consist of inquiries of
management regarding the methods of preparing the information and comparing the information for
consistency with management's responses to our inquiries, the basic financial statements, and other
knowledge we obtained during our audit of the basic financial statements. We will not express an
opinion or provide any assurance on the information because the limited procedures do not provide us
with sufficient evidence to express an opinion or provide any assurance. The following RSI is required
by generally accepted accounting principles and will be subjected to certain limited procedures, but will
not be audited:
1) Management's Discussion and Analysis
2) Budgetary Comparison Schedule — General Fund
Audit Objectives
The objective of our audit is the expression of opinions as to whether your financial statements are fairly
presented, in all material respects, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our
audit will be conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America and the standards for financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by
the Comptroller General of the United States, and will include tests of the accounting records of the
Town of Gulf Stream, Florida and other procedures we consider necessary to enable us to express such
opinions. We will issue a written report upon completion of our audit of the Town of Gulf Stream,
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS • FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS • CPAMERICA INTERNATIONAL
Florida's financial statements. Our report will be addressed to the Mayor and Members of the Town
Commission of the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida. We cannot provide assurance that unmodified
opinions will be expressed. Circumstances may arise in which it is necessary for us to modify our
opinions or add emphasis -of -matter or other -matter paragraphs. If our opinions are other than
unmodified, we will discuss the reasons with you in advance. If, for any reason, we are unable to
complete the audit or are unable to form or have not formed opinions, we may decline to express
opinions or issue reports, or may withdraw from this engagement.
We will also provide a report (that does not include an opinion) on internal control related to the
financial statements and compliance with the provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant
agreements, noncompliance with which could have a material effect on the financial statements as
required by Government Auditing Standards. The report on internal control and on compliance and other
matters will include a paragraph that states (1) that the purpose of the report is solely to describe the
scope of testing of internal control and compliance, and the results of that testing, and not to provide an
opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control on compliance, and (2) that the report is an
integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering
the entity's internal control and compliance. The paragraph will also state that the report is not suitable
for any other purpose. If during our audit we become aware that the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida is
subject to an audit requirement that is not encompassed in the terms of this engagement, we will
communicate to management and those charged with governance that an audit in accordance with U.S.
generally accepted auditing standards and the standards for financial audits contained in Government
Auditing Standards may not satisfy the relevant legal, regulatory, or contractual requirements.
Audit Procedures—General
An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements; therefore, our audit will involve judgment about the number of transactions to be
examined and the areas to be tested. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting
policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well
as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We will plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement,
whether from (1) errors, (2) fraudulent financial reporting, (3) misappropriation of assets, or (4)
violations of laws or governmental regulations that are attributable to the government or to acts by
management or employees acting on behalf of the government. Because the determination of abuse is
subjective, Government Auditing Standards do not expect auditors to provide reasonable assurance of
detecting abuse.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, combined with the inherent limitations of internal control,
and because we will not perform a detailed examination of all transactions, there is a risk that material
misstatements may exist and not be detected by us, even though the audit is properly planned and
performed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards and Government Auditing
Standards. In addition, an audit is not designed to detect immaterial misstatements or violations of laws
or governmental regulations that do not have a direct and material effect on the financial statements.
However, we will inform the appropriate level of management of any material errors, fraudulent
financial reporting, or misappropriation of assets that comes to our attention. We will also inform the
appropriate level of management of any violations of laws or governmental regulations that come to our
attention, unless clearly inconsequential, and of any material abuse that comes to our attention. Our
responsibility as auditors is limited to the period covered by our audit and does not extend to later
periods for which we are not engaged as auditors.
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Our procedures will include tests of documentary evidence supporting the transactions recorded in the
accounts, and may include tests of the physical existence of inventories, and direct confirmation of
receivables and certain other assets and liabilities by correspondence with selected individuals, funding
sources, creditors, and financial institutions. We will request written representations from your attorneys
as part of the engagement, and they may bill you for responding to this inquiry. At the conclusion of our
audit, we will require certain written representations from you about your responsibilities for the
financial statements; compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements; and other
responsibilities required by generally accepted auditing standards.
Audit Procedures—Internal Control
Our audit will include obtaining an understanding of the government and its environment, including
internal control, sufficient to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and to
design the nature, timing, and extent of further audit procedures. Tests of controls may be performed to
test the effectiveness of certain controls that we consider relevant to preventing and detecting errors and
fraud that are material to the financial statements and to preventing and detecting misstatements
resulting from illegal acts and other noncompliance matters that have a direct and material effect on the
financial statements. Our tests, if performed, will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an
opinion on internal control and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal
control issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards.
An audit is not designed to provide assurance on internal control or to identify significant deficiencies or
material weaknesses. However, during the audit, we will communicate to management and those
charged with governance internal control related matters that are required to be communicated under
AICPA professional standards and Government Auditing Standards.
Audit Procedures—Compliance
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, we will perform tests of the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida's compliance with the
provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, agreements, and grants. However, the objective of
our audit will not be to provide an opinion on overall compliance and we will not express such an
opinion in our report on compliance issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards.
Other Services
We will also assist in preparing the financial statements and related notes and the annual financial report
to be filed with the Florida Department of Financial Services of the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles based on information provided by you.
These nonaudit services do not constitute an audit under Government Auditing Standards and such
services will not be conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. We will perform the
services in accordance with applicable professional standards. The other services are limited to the
financial statement services and the annual financial report previously defined. We, in our sole
professional judgment, reserve the right to refuse to perform any procedure or take any action that could
be construed as assuming management responsibilities.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal controls, including
evaluating and monitoring ongoing activities, to help ensure that appropriate goals and objectives are
met; following laws and regulations; and ensuring that management and financial information is reliable
and properly reported. Management is also responsible for implementing systems designed to achieve
compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements. You are also responsible
for the selection and application of accounting principles, for the preparation and fair presentation of the
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financial statements and all accompanying information in conformity with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles, and for compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of
contracts and grant agreements.
Management is also responsible for making all financial records and related information available to us
and for the accuracy and completeness of that information. You are also responsible for providing us
with (1) access to all information of which you are aware that is relevant to the preparation and fair
presentation of the financial statements, (2) additional information that we may request for the purpose
of the audit, and (3) unrestricted access to persons within the government from whom we determine it
necessary to obtain audit evidence.
Your responsibilities include adjusting the financial statements to correct material misstatements and for
confirming to us in the written representation letter that the effects of any uncorrected misstatements
aggregated by us during the current engagement and pertaining to the latest period presented are
immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate, to the financial statements taken as a whole.
You are responsible for the design and implementation of programs and controls to prevent and detect
fraud, and for informing us about all known or suspected fraud affecting the government involving (1)
management, (2) employees who have significant roles in internal control, and (3) others where the
fraud could have a material effect on the financial statements. Your responsibilities include informing us
of your knowledge of any allegations of fraud or suspected fraud affecting the government received in
communications from employees, former employees, grantors, regulators, or others. In addition, you are
responsible for identifying and ensuring that the government complies with applicable laws, regulations,
contracts, agreements, and grants and for taking timely and appropriate steps to remedy fraud and
noncompliance with provisions of laws, regulations, contracts or grant agreements, or abuse that we
report.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a process for tracking the status of audit
findings and recommendations. Management is also responsible for identifying and providing report
copies of previous financial audits, attestation engagements, performance audits or other studies related
to the objectives discussed in the Audit Objectives section of this letter. This responsibility includes
relaying to us corrective actions taken to address significant findings and recommendations resulting
from those audits, attestation engagements, performance audits, or other studies. You are also
responsible for providing management's views on our current findings, conclusions, and
recommendations, as well as your planned corrective actions, for the report, and for the timing and
format for providing that information.
You agree to assume all management responsibilities relating to the financial statements and related
notes, the annual financial report to be filed with the Florida Department of Financial Services, and any
other nonaudit services we provide. You will be required to acknowledge in the management
representation letter our assistance with preparation of the financial statements and related notes and the
annual financial report to be filed with the Department of Financial Services and that you have reviewed
and approved the financial statements and related notes and the annual financial report prior to their
issuance and have accepted responsibility for them. Further, you agree to oversee the nonaudit services
by designating an individual, preferably from senior management, with suitable skill, knowledge, or
experience; evaluate the adequacy and results of those services; and accept responsibility for them.
Engagement Administration, Fees, and Other
We will schedule the engagement based in part on deadlines, working conditions, and the availability of
your key personnel. We will plan the engagement based on the assumption that your personnel will
cooperate and provide assistance by performing tasks such as preparing requested schedules, retrieving
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supporting documents, and preparing confirmations. If for whatever reason your personnel are unable to
provide the necessary assistance in a timely manner, it may affect our ability to complete the
engagement within the established deadlines.
We will provide copies of our reports to the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida; however, management is
responsible for distribution of the reports and the financial statements. Unless restricted by law or
regulation, or containing privileged and confidential information, copies of our reports are to be made
available for public inspection.
The audit documentation for this engagement is the property of Nowlen, Holt & Miner, P.A. and
constitutes confidential information. However, subject to applicable laws and regulations, audit
documentation and appropriate individuals will be made available upon request and in a timely manner
to a regulatory agency or its designee, a federal agency providing direct or indirect funding, or the U.S.
Government Accountability Office for purposes of a quality review of the audit, to resolve audit findings,
or to cavy out oversight responsibilities. We will notify you of any such request. If requested, access to
such audit documentation will be provided under the supervision of Nowlen, Holt & Miner, P.A.
personnel. Furthermore, upon request, we may provide copies of selected audit documentation to the
aforementioned parties. These parties may intend, or decide, to distribute the copies or information
contained therein to others, including other governmental agencies.
The audit documentation for this engagement will be retained for a minimum of five years after the
report release date or for any additional period requested by a regulatory agency. If we are aware that a
federal awarding agency or auditee is contesting an audit finding, we will contact the party(ies)
contesting the audit finding for guidance prior to destroying the audit documentation.
We expect to begin our audit in December and and to issue our reports no later than March 31 st. Ronald
Bennett is the engagement partner and is responsible for supervising the engagement and signing the
reports or authorizing another individual to sign them. Our fee for these services will be $15,050 per
year. Our invoices for these fees will be rendered each month as work progresses and are payable on
presentation. In accordance with our firm policies, work may be suspended if your account becomes
overdue and may not be resumed until your account is paid in full. If we elect to terminate our services
for nonpayment, our engagement will be deemed to have been completed upon written notification of
termination, even if we have not completed our report. You will be obligated to compensate us for all
time expended and to reimburse us for all out-of-pocket costs through the date of termination. The above
fee is based on anticipated cooperation from your personnel and the assumption that unexpected
circumstances will not be encountered during the audit. If significant additional time is necessary, we
will discuss it with you and arrive at a new fee estimate before we incur the additional costs.
A copy of our latest peer review report is attached to this letter
We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida and believe this
letter accurately summarizes the significant terms of our engagement. If you have any questions, please
let us know. If you agree with the terms of our engagement as described in this letter, please sign the
enclosed copy and return it to us.
Very truly yours,
Jzu.-- •P -r 410-A�
Nowlen, Holt & Miner, P.A.
E
RESPONSE:
This letter correctly sets forth the understanding of the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida.
— I 1� Qi, 4(, -
Wil ' m H. Thras Town Manager
Date: Idi `i1-17-17
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G9
System Review Report
JPisfied public accountants
November 17, 2015
To the Shareholders of Nowlen, Holt & Miner, P. A. and the Peer Review Committee of the
Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants
We have reviewed the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice Nowlen, Holt
& Miner, P. A. (the firm) in effect for the year ended May 31, 2015. Our peer review was conducted in
accordance with the Standards for Performing and Reporting on Peer Reviews established by the Peer
Review Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. As part of our peer review, we
considered reviews by regulatory entities, if applicable, in determining the nature and extent of our
procedures. The firm is responsible for designing a system of quality control and complying with it to
provide the firm with reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with applicable
professional standards in all material respects. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
design of the system of quality control and the firm's compliance therewith based on our review. The
nature, objectives, scope, limitations of, and the procedures performed in a System Review are
described in the standards at www.aicpa.org/prsummarv.
As required by the standards, engagements selected for review included engagements performed
under Government Auditing Standards.
In our opinion, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Nowlen, Holt &
Miner, P. A. in effect for the year ended May 31, 2015, has been suitably designed and complied with
to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with
applicable professional standards in all material respects. Firms can receive a rating of pass, pass with
deficiency(ies) or fail. Nowlen, Holt & Miner, P. A. has received a peer review rating of pass.
Johnson Price Sprinkfe PA
79 Woodfin Place, Suite 300 • Asheville, NC 28801
An Independent Member of the BDO Seidman Alliance.
Johnson Price Sprinkle PA
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