Lovington seeks temporary accounting help amid audit backlog

Lovington is seeking temporary help

Lovington is looking for outside accounting help to get its books and audit prep back on track. In RFQ 2026-005, the city says it wants a temporary firm to handle governmental accounting and audit-readiness work, including reconciliations, financial schedules, supporting documents, and responses to auditor requests.

The city says the work is meant to supplement existing staff and help it become current with accounting and audit-preparation requirements. In follow-up answers, Lovington said it does not currently have a controller and that the finance department is operating with limited staffing.

What the city says is behind the delay

The city’s responses also spell out the backlog. Bank reconciliations are current only through April 2026, and Lovington said its FY2025 audit has not yet commenced. The city said the needed work could include bank reconciliations, general ledger reconciliations, account analysis, journal entries, and documentation cleanup so it can produce records for audit.

Lovington also said accounts payable and payroll processing are current. The open issue is the accounting record cleanup and audit prep needed to support the city’s financial reporting.

Why the timing matters

Lovington says services may begin in mid-July 2026, after commission approval and review of the scope of work and fee schedule. The city also says its immediate priority is completing fourth-quarter reporting due July 31, 2026, along with ongoing audit preparation.

That timing matters because the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor says annual audit reports for local public bodies, including municipalities, are due December 15. For Lovington, that makes the next few months important if the city wants to clear the backlog and stay on schedule.

What to watch next

This is still an open request for qualifications, not a completed hire. The next key step is whether Lovington awards the work and how quickly the selected firm can help the city finish the remaining accounting tasks and audit prep.

Sources

• City of Lovington: RFQ 2026-005 responses to submitted questions (additional)
• New Mexico Office of the State Auditor: audit report due dates