Pacific public auditors go virtual with 2020 conference

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Association of Pacific Islands Public Auditors just concluded their 31st annual conference, held virtually from Aug. 3 to 14, 2020, despite challenges imposed by the coronavirus and travel restrictions.

The conference was originally planned as an in-person event on Saipan but eventually pushed through online after the COVID-19 pandemic restricted travel options for participants.

“Unusual times like these has forced APIPA to innovate. More than ever, our accountability profession needs to maintain its core competence as we serve the public and our government,” said CNMI Public Auditor Mike Pai.

“Accountability does not have borders, and this year is tangible proof that neither vast oceans, distance, time, and even now the coronavirus pandemic will separate you from the great work that you are doing must do,” said U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech in his welcoming remarks to the virtual conference. “The pandemic has helped us see the importance of maintaining technological advantages—whether to provide improved government services or coming together as you have for APIPA 2020.”

The APIPA 2020 virtual conference provided training for auditing and financial accountability officials from the U.S. Pacific territories and freely associated states, helping them to meet government auditing standards and maintain professional competency. APIPA 2020 represented a record-high attendance, with over 700 participants joining courses. During the sessions, participants expanded their skills in audit report writing, root cause analysis, grants management, leadership, internal controls, and quality assurance. In total, over 4,925 course certificates were awarded for 19,700 CPE credit hours.

The insular area government officials participating in this year’s virtual conference came from American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Fiji, and Samoa. Representatives from the FSM came from the national government and each of its four states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap.

Interior Inspector General Mark Lee Greenblatt delivered remarks at the opening session of the first plenary, encouraging participants to own their work and take leadership roles in accountability. “It’s not just processes—all of us need to audit what matters,” Greenblatt said. He urged island audit professionals to move their important accountability profession forward by going beyond “doing just what’s prescribed to volunteering to do what’s best.” A closing plenary focused on ethics, with specific examples to help participants see the role of ethics in auditing and accountability. (PR)

APIPA 2020 was funded through the Office of Insular Affairs’ technical assistance program and provided by the Graduate School USA’s Pacific and Virgin Islands Training Initiatives. For more information on APIPA and the Graduate School USA, visit pitiviti.org/. For more about the Office of Insular Affairs, visit the www.doi.gov/oia or follow OIA on Facebook. (PR)