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Govt financial managers upgrade skills in training
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Posted on Jan 20 2005
The Office of Public Auditor is now hosting a seminar for government auditors, accountants, and financial officers to enhance their government financial management skills.
Called the Government Financial Management workshop, it was held from Jan. 18 to 20 this week and will continue on Jan. 25 to 27 at the Hafa Adai Hotel in Garapan.
Pete Rose, a special training consultant for the national office of the Association of Government Accountants in the U.S., is conducting the course, which he had developed specifically for government financial managers. He has been conducting financial management training among public auditors and finance experts in the CNMI, Guam, Kosrae and Pohnpei.
Public Auditor Mike Sablan said is grateful to have Rose on Saipan to share his vision of a quality audit. He said this type of training forms part of his staff’s personal and professional development.
The initial plan for this program was for it to be a training program for the OPA’s auditors but for this year, the OPA invited other auditors from various agencies.
The workshop will cover understanding the new municipal financial statements, how to lower bond rates, financial ratios for revenue, expenditure, debt and operations—indicators and warning trends, budgeting cycle and process, and capital budgeting—calculation, presentation and approval, how to prepare a budget for one’s area of responsibility, new accountability requirements for local governments, using the comprehensive annual financial report, and the newly required management’s discussion and analysis report and required supplemental information.
Over 40 private and government auditors are attending the training.
OPA was able to acquire a $20,000 technical assistance grant from Hawaii to finance the entire seminar’s logistical expenses. (Marconi Calindas)
