NMI’s public auditor gets nat’l recognition

Public Auditor Michael S. Sablan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has been awarded the prestigious National President’s Award of the Association of Government Accountants, an educational organization with over 15,000 members dedicated to the enhancement of accountability and public financial management.

The National President’s Award is presented annually to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the success of the association’s programs. Sablan was commended for outstanding leadership, with special recognition for advancing the Certified Government Financial Management certification and AGA education programs.

“I was surprised and deeply honored when I was notified,” said Sablan. “Although I am relatively new to AGA, my passion and my drive to promote and support the organization derive from many things, foremost among them is the people behind the organization—professionals working together, dedicated to advancing government accountability. This award is not a reflection on my efforts alone, but on all our managers and staff at the Office of the Public Auditor working together on capacity-building initiatives.”

Since being appointed Public Auditor in 2000, Sablan has implemented a rigorous training program for resident professionals at OPA. Complementing education programs offered through the AGA, Sablan has also developed on-the-job training initiatives for his staff in partnership with the Department of Interior’s Office of the Inspector General, the Government Accountability Office, and DOI’s Office of Insular Affairs. Compared to only two resident workers on a staff of 29 OPA auditors in 2000, today OPA employs only one nonresident worker.

In January and May 2005, OPA also brought the Certified Government Financial Manager courses to the CNMI for the first time through $40,000 in grant funding secured from the DOI Office of Insular Affairs. CGFM is the standard of education, experience and ethics by which government financial management professionals are measured. Training through CGFM is a key step in implementing the CNMI “Financial Gatekeeper Initiative” being developed by OPA with support from the Department of Finance, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Personnel Management, and the Civil Service Commission. When implemented, the initiative will require certification of minimum competency qualifications for approximately 15 key financial management positions in government.

“It’s all about accountability in government,” said Sablan, “which ties in squarely with what the CGFM is about.”

He also indicated that support from the Governor, Lt. Governor, and members of the Legislature has been very encouraging.

“Our goal is to improve and enhance our capacity as a government to manage resources,” said Sablan, who was appointed to serve as the AGA’s Regional Vice-President for the Pacific Rim. “I see the AGA National President’s Award as an acknowledgement that what we’re doing is the right thing.”

The President’s Award was presented in July by AGA National President Bobby Derrick, CGFM, during the 54th Annual Professional Development Conference in Orlando, FL. The award was accepted on behalf of Sablan by Kimberly Mendiola, AGA’s Northern Marianas Chapter president.

AGA serves the professional interests of financial managers, from local, state and federal governments, as well as public accounting firms, responsible for effectively using billions of dollars and other monetary resources.