Sablan earns Certified Internal Auditor designation

Deanna Atalig Castro Sablan, a senior analyst at the Office of the Public Auditor, was named a Certified Internal Auditor by the Institute of Internal Auditors on Jan. 20, 2006.

The prestigious “CIA” designation is awarded to audit professionals who have met the rigorous requirements of the institute’s Certified Internal Auditor program, including a challenging four-part examination, as well as high standards of character, education, and experience.

The exam was last administered in November 2005 to over 21,000 candidates at 276 sites in 85 countries around the world. The CIA exam reflects the current state-of-the-art in internal auditing and evaluates technical competence in important subject areas related to internal auditing such as financial and managerial accounting, finance, economics, information technology, fraud, legislation, and regulations on businesses.

The Certified Internal Auditor designation is accepted and recognized in the United States and numerous countries around the world.

Sablan, a graduate from California State University at Fresno with a B.S. in Business Administration, joined OPA as an analyst in June 2003. Prior to OPA, Sablan worked for two years at the Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation, Ltd. and later taught at the CNMI Public School System for four years.

In June 2005, Sablan was promoted to senior analyst and now supervises newer analysts. In addition to in-house audit training at OPA, Sablan took part in a five-week OPA-sponsored auditor training program in Seattle, Washington, where she was temporarily assigned to the Government Accountability Office to work with, observe and learn from GAO staff and audit managers.

Sablan’s major projects at OPA included audits of the CNMI Federal Grants process in March 2004 and of the Department of Public Safety Evidence Controls in September 2005. She is currently working on two audits at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Safety to address internal control issues.

“Deanna has been an exemplary OPA employee and her CIA designation is an independent confirmation of the professional that she is,” Public Auditor Michael Sablan said. “We’re very fortunate to have her, especially now that she is a senior analyst supervising and training new staff.”

The Public Auditor added that OPA staff are encouraged to attain a recognized professional certification, noting that such certifications validate and enhance the credibility of the office and its staff. Sablan joins seven other OPA employees who have achieved professional designations.

Sablan is the daughter of Joaquin Quichocho Castro and Margarita Atalig Castro. She is married to Philip Guerrero Sablan, and they have three wonderful boys: Jordan, Reece, and Nathaniel. (PR)