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GAO Opens New Center to Help Local, State, and International Auditing Groups Hold Governments Accountable

WASHINGTON, DC (October 1, 2015) - The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) today launched its Center for Audit Excellence, which will provide customized training, technical assistance, and other products and services to domestic and international audit organizations. The goal is to foster effective accountability organizations that can help improve government performance and transparency, in addition to ensuring the sound use of public funds.

“I’m extremely proud and excited about the opening of our Center for Audit Excellence,” said Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and the head of the GAO. “GAO has long promoted good governance, both at home and abroad. We’ve assembled a great team of experienced professionals. The Center will allow us to leverage GAO’s broad institutional knowledge to help audit shops hone their skills.”

The Center will offer fee-based products and services tailored to the needs of accountability organizations, such as state and local auditors and audit offices in other countries. Training, technical assistance, and other services, such as needs assessments and mentoring, will be offered in such areas as conducting performance and financial audits, institutional capacity building, internal controls, and leadership and supervision in effectively overseeing audits. Fees collected will be used to support operations of the Center.

To ensure high-quality services while providing independence from GAO units doing routine audit and oversight work, the Center will be staffed primarily by former senior-level GAO auditors and managers. Legislation enacted at the end of 2014 authorized GAO to establish the Center to provide training and assistance to qualified personnel and entities.

For more information, visit the Center’s webpage or contact Jennifer Ashley or Ned Griffith in GAO’s Office of Public Affairs at 202-512-4800.

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The Government Accountability Office, known as the investigative arm of Congress, is an independent, nonpartisan agency that exists to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities. GAO also works to improve the performance of the federal government and ensure its accountability to the American people. The agency examines the use of public funds; evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. GAO provides Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonideological, fair, and balanced. GAO’s commitment to good government is reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability.

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