Politics & Government

New Auditors Appointed

Board of Finance appoints McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as town auditors.

At a special meeting held April 19, the Board of Finance decided on a "fresh start" it its appointment of town auditors. McGladrey & Pullen, LLP will take the place of BlumShapiro, a Connecticut-based firm that has served Darien for over six years.

State law requires communities to submit financial statements to town auditors on a yearly basis. According to Finance Director Kate Buch, it's a checks and balances process that allows an outside party to check that a municipality has openly and honestly presented its financial standing.

"We didn't have any problems with BlumShapiro, but the time had come to take a look at a turn over," said Buch.

Auditors typically serve a minimum three-year term, and according to Buch, a number of towns consider it best practice to periodically switch firms.

Darien's auditors rarely come across major discrepancies, said Buch. Still the town pays upwards of $50,000 per year to meet state requirements.

Cost of services was one reason for the auditor switch. Where BlumShapiro would have increased its annual fee from $55,000 to $56,750 within the next few years, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP will charge the town $53,000 for this year's audit and the next; fiscal year 2012-13 will see the cost jump to $55,100.

According to Jon Zagrodzky, the real draw of appointing new auditors was the opportunity it provided to a relatively new Board of Finance.
 
"We're showing up fresh, the auditors are showing up fresh; and we're establishing a working relationship together," Zagrodzky said.

In its proposal to the board, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP claimed to spend more time with its clients and to "look at things differently." Members considered both points attractive, and Zagrodzky made note of the firm's enthusiasm.

Zagrodzky said the town could feasibly decide to return to BlumShapiro in the future.

The vote to appoint Town Auditors McGladrey & Pullen, LLP was unanimous.


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