FSM State of Chuuk appoints a new Public Auditor

PASAI welcome Mr. Manuel “Manny” L. San Jose Jr. to the PASAI Family as the newly appointed Public Auditor of Chuuk State, FSM.  Mr San Jose Jr is not new to PASAI as he was working for about nine years at the FSM National Public Auditor's Office prior to being appointed as the Chuuk State Public Auditor.  He started working as an Audit Supervisor and held the position of Audit Consultant/Audit Manager when he left FSM National Public Auditor's Office in 2017. Over the years he has participated in many PASAI activities, workshops and regional/global programmes and we look forward to working with him once again in his new capacity.

Mr. San Jose has 36 years working experience in the fields of auditing, finance and accounting, and information technology both in private and government sectors. In private sector, he worked for companies in various industries such as auditing, manufacturing, insurance and education (a university) where he held a number of key executive posts such as Audit Manager, Management Information Systems (MIS) Manager, Assistant Vice President for Information Technology, Senior Assistant Vice President for Audit, Vice President/Comptroller for Finance, and Chief Finance Officer (CFO).

Mr. San Jose, a cum laude graduate, earned a bachelor degree in commercial science major in accounting.  Furthermore, he earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and currently has earned six professional certifications as follows:  

1.     Certified Public Accountant (CPA-Phils)

2.     Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

3.     Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

4.     Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)

5.     Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)

6.     Certified Forensic Investigation Professional (CFIP)

PASAI look forward to working with Mr San Jose and his staff to make a difference to the lives of citizens in FSM State of Chuuk. 

Congratulations again on your new appointment!

INTOSAI DONOR CORPORATION NEWSLETTER - 3RD QTR 2017 UPDATE

We invite you to read the latest quarterly newsletter of the INTOSAI-Donor Cooperation!

It is produced in English, Arabic, French and Spanish, presenting updates on the IDI's projects over the previous quarter and cooperation activities across the region. 

Please copy the link below to access this newsletter.

http://www.idi.no/en/all-news/intosai-donor-cooperation-news/item/88-intosai-donor-cooperation-newsletter-3rd-quarterly-update-2017

2017 CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE PASAI TEAM

Samoa SAI responds positively to Media

Read an article by the Samoa Controller and Auditor General, in response and clarification to the Samoa Observer Editorial (media) on the status of Samoa's Public Accounts and Audit Reports.

It is important for the public to understand and be very clear on the Audit Office or Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) mandate and the work they do.  This is not always clear and one way to achieve this and clarify the work of SAIs is to engage positively and collaboratively with the Media, also a key stakeholder. 

This is a good example of how Heads of SAI or Auditor General's can respond to the media and advocate the work they do.

Refer to this full article via the link below

http://sobserver.ws/en/12_12_2017/local/27729/Controller-and-Auditor-General-Fuimaono-Taimalelagi-explains.htm

Newsletter from INTOSAI Capacity Building Committee

Enjoy the many articles in this month's INTOSAI CBC Newsletter.  Copy the link below to your web browser to access the full newsletter. 

http://www.intosaicbc.org/?mailpoet_router&endpoint=view_in_browser&action=view&data=WzQsMCw2NTYsIjNjMzY4YiIsMywwXQ

Invitation to all PASAI members to attend "International Meeting Performance Audit Critical Thinkers (IMPACT)" in 2018

The Auditor-General of New South Wales in Australia, Ms Margaret Crawford, and on behalf of the Australasian Council of Auditors-General (ACAG) is extending a warm invitation to all  PASAI members to attend IMPACT 2018, the International Meeting of Performance Audit Critical Thinkers, on March 19-20 2018, in Sydney Australia. 

IMPACT is the biannual conference of performance auditors.  The focus of IMPACT 2018 is on the future of performance audit and how performance auditors can respond to a changing government and public sector. 

IMPACT 2018 is expected to attract around 200 people: public and private sector performance auditors and also the public servants who interact with them.  

Further information about the conference, including registration instructions, is available at this link:  http://www.impactconference2018.com/.  I am available to answer questions, or contact the IMPACT 2018 organising committee directly at impact2018@audit.nsw.gov.au

This is a great opportunity for our PASAI members to gain further insight, capacity building and training relating to performance audits.   

IDI Newsletter "IDI FOCUS"- November 2017

There is plenty of interesting news inside this edition of IDI's newsletter.  In particular information about the Global SDG program that PASAI is participating in and much much more.

Click on the link below to access the full IDI Focus newsletter

http://intosaidevelopmentinitiative.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/t/B3D2507350235BA1/FEBC446F90BC84BD3EDEEDC46EB9B960

Implementing Performance Measurement Framework in the Pacific

The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) and INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) continued with phase II of the SAI Performance Measurement Framework (SAI PMF) project for Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the North Pacific by facilitating a workshop in Majuro, Marshall Islands from 2 - 6 October 2017. Twenty two staff from nine SAIs attended the workshop.

The Chief Secretary of the Republic of Marshall Islands, Mr Benjamin Graham, officially opened the workshop. In his opening remarks, he acknowledged the importance of SAIs taking stock of where they are and how they can continue to improve. He said, “This process of methodical self-assessment and continual self-improvement is common sense—but sadly not common practice among many organisations. By going through these performance assessments and peer reviews and diagnosing your deficiencies and areas for improvement, you are not only setting the bar high on your own performance, you are also setting an example for other public institutions to follow.” These comments echoed the core purpose of the SAI PMF tool and how SAIs can demonstrate the fundamental principle of SAIs leading by example.

SAIs from Guam, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Office of the National Public Auditor, FSM States of Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap have been assessed through the peer review approach and the assessment reports are being finalised. The peer review teams were supported by resource persons from the region; they were Ms Claire Kelly, PASAI Performance Audit Consultant, Mr Allen Parker, Director of Audit for Cook Islands Audit Office, Mr Kelepi Makakaufaki, Deputy Auditor General of Tonga Office of the Auditor-General and Mr Marshall Maua, Director of Strategic, Personnel and Corporate Services of Samoa Audit Office.

The focus of the workshop was learning how to develop the qualitative evaluation, including identification of external and internal root causes of performance. Incorporating these external factors are crucial in explaining the SAI’s performance as these can either help or hamper the performance of the SAI. Each peer review team also presented and discussed lessons learned so far in the assessment, and preliminary high level results of their respective assessments.
The next steps in the programme are for the peer review teams to finalise the full report taking on board the lessons learnt from the workshop on integrated analysis and preparing a report that is evidence-based, balanced and easy to understand.

This programme is aligned with one of PASAI’s strategic goals requiring SAIs to develop a performance measurement framework to assist with improving the delivery of SAI’s audit responsibilities.

The workshop was facilitated by Ms Cecilie Thue-Hansen, Head of SAI PMF Unit within IDI and Mrs Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, PASAI Director Practice Development.

This project is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, INTOSAI Development Initiatives (IDI) and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For further information, contact:
Tiofilusi Tiueti, Chief Executive PASAI Secretariat
Email: tiofilusi.tiueti@pasai.org
Telephone: +64 9 304 1275
Website: www.pasai.org

Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, Director Practice Development
Email: sina.iosefo@pasai.org
Telephone: +64 21 027 12717

Photo: Day 1 - Opening of workshop with Chief Secretary RMI, participants and co-ordinators 

IDI is hiring -Strategic Advisor (Strategy, Governance and Communications)

This is an exciting opportunity to work at a global policy level to enhance financial accountability and transparency in all developing countries, through strengthening Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs).
 

The INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), based in Oslo, is recruiting a dynamic, free thinking individual as a strategic advisor to work with the IDI senior management team. IDI works with audit institutions in all developing countries, regional and global audit and accountability networks, and the international development community to strengthen the performance of SAIs, promote government accountability and transparency, fight corruption, and improve the lives of citizens. The successful candidate will support development of IDI’s new strategic plan, gathering of global evidence to formulate global policies, set up new global and regional partnerships, lead on the development and delivery of a new communications strategy, and ensure IDI leads by example in its corporate governance systems.

Deadline for application is the 9th of October

Questions regarding the position can be directed to Mr. Martin Aldcroft Email martin.aldcroft@idi.no

More information can be found per link below: 

https://www.webcruiter.no/WcMain/advertviewpublic.aspx?oppdragsnr=3569668907&company_id=1905176809&culture_id=EN

Advocating accountability and transparency in the Solomon Islands

The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) and the Solomon Islands Office of the Auditor-General (SIOAG) conducted a series of workshops for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Public Expenditure Committee (PEC), Government entities and stakeholders at the National Parliament of Solomon Islands on 11th – 14th September 2017.

The Speaker of Parliament Hon. Ajilon Jasper Nasiu when opening the PAC/PEC workshop stressed the importance for improvement of the capacity of members of Parliament in holding the executive government accountable on the use of public funds, in their contribution to better public administration and greater public confidence in the institutions ofthe Solomon Island government.

The purpose of the workshops were to raise awareness on PASAI and the work it does in the region, especially providing support to public sector audit institutions such as the SIOAG
to improve accountability and transparency in the island states. The workshop for PAC and
PEC was held be on 11th and 12th September, for government entities on 13th and for stakeholders on 14th September.

The objectives of the workshops were:
(a) to create awareness on the work of PASAI in the Pacific region especially in advocating transparency and accountability;
(b) to build the capacity of the Members of Parliament to better understand their role in
providing financial oversight of public expenditure as well as to better understand the specific role of the PAC and PEC within the processes of Parliament;
(c) to raise awareness on the role of SIOAG and how audit entities can be involved in improving the audit process;
(d) to discuss how to achieve greater audit impact by engaging audit entities throughout the audit process;
(e) to introduce a proposed Auditor General’s Bill 2017.

The training and awareness was conducted by the Solomon Islands Auditor General, Peter Lokay and assisted by PASAI consultants Eroni Vatuloka and Aisake Eke. The Solomon
Islands is the sixth country in the Pacific region that has hosted these series of transparency
and accountability workshops.

The DFAT Counsellor for Justice and Governance in the Solomon Islands, Ms Karyn Murray in closing the legislature committee workshops hoped that the training would enhance the work of the SIOAG and assist Parliament in the evaluation of government programmes and
organisations. It is anticipated that there would be an impact in good governance,  transparency and accountability, improving operational efficiency and boosting the trust and
confidence on the SIOAG and the government.

The workshops are part of the PASAI’s advocacy programme to develop strong partnerships
with regional organisations and audit institutions to enhance accountability and transparency
in the region.
The SIOAG and PASAI acknowledge the kind financial assistance of the Solomon Islands
government, the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the New
Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in supporting the three workshops.

For more information please contact: 

Tiofilusi Tiueti

Chief Executive PASAI Secretariat

Email: tiofilusi.tiueti@pasai.org

or

Eroni Vatuloka

PASAI PFM Consultant

Email: eronivatuloka@gmail.com

PAC and PEC participants, SIOAG Auditor General & PASAI Consultants

Government entities participants

Stakeholders participants