Project Grant D23AP00184

THE GUAM OFFICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY (OPA) RESPECTFULLY SUBMITS ITS TRAINING GRANT REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 FOR 76,000. THIS REQUEST INCLUDES AN INITIATIVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL (DOI-OIG) FOR INTERNSHIPS AND OTHER CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR OPA. THIS REQUEST IS SIMILAR TO PAST TRAINING GRANTS FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS (OIA) FOR OPA AND OTHER INSULAR AUDIT OFFICES.THE COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN OIG, OPA, AND OIA HAS PROVEN TO BE A SUCCESSFUL VENTURE TO BUILD AND IMPROVE AUDITOR CAPACITY AND FURTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR OFFICE. WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE BENEFITS AS OUR AUDITORS HAVE GAINED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE WHICH HAS DEVELOPED THE OPAS CAPACITY. THE OPAS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS ARE ATTAINED MAINLY THROUGH THE OIA TRAINING GRANT, HELPING US MEET CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, TRAIN NEW STAFF, DEVELOP EXISTING STAFF, AND NURTURE LEADERSHIP.SINCE 2018, OPA HAS CONTINUOUSLY LOST OVER A DOZEN SENIOR AUDITORS TO AUTONOMOUS AGENCIES, MOST RECENTLY IN 2022. CURRENTLY, EIGHT OF THE 13 CURRENT AUDITORS HAVE AN AVERAGE TENURE WITH OPA OF LESS THAN TWO YEARS, SO THE NEED TO TRAIN AND DEVELOP THESE AUDITORS IS CRITICAL. OPA CONTINUES TO REBUILD ITS OFFICE CAPACITY AND RECRUIT NEW AUDITORS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NINE AUDIT STAFF THAT ARE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OIG ON THE JOB TRAINING. ALL AUDITORS ARE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND REVIEW COURSES AND GUIDES FOR VARIOUS CERTIFICATIONS.