Audit committee approves RFP to outsource Buncombe County internal-audit function

The Buncombe County Audit Committee voted to direct staff to issue a request for proposals to outsource the county's internal-audit function, the committee decided during its regular meeting.

Avril Pender, who addressed the committee about the vacancy in the internal-audit role after Rob's recent departure, recommended outsourcing the function rather than trying to recruit and rebuild the office in-house. "I would like to recommend that we outsource the internal audit function instead of going and filling that position again and starting this process over again," Pender said, and described the proposal as an RFP process similar to the county's external-auditor selection.

The committee approved a motion to accept that recommendation; a member moved the motion and it was seconded, and the committee approved it by voice vote. The motion directs staff to prepare an RFP that would seek a full-service internal-audit contractor and return recommendations to the committee for selection and contract award.

Committee members and staff discussed why outsourcing was under consideration. Pender said the county has had five internal-audit directors in six years and that a contracted firm can provide continuity and deeper subject-matter capacity across IT, construction and other audit specialties. She cited a municipal model using a…