Donnalynn Atalig Castro Earns Certified Fraud Examiner Designation

(June 2, 2008) Donnalynn Atalig Castro, an analyst at the Office of the Public Auditor, was named a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) on May 23, 2008.

To become a Fraud Examiner, Castro had to pass a rigorous examination administered by the ACFE, meet education and professional requirements, and agree to abide by the CFE Code of Professional Ethics. When asked about her accomplishment, Castro stated “I could not have achieved this goal without the support and encouragement of my family and my friends. I look forward to applying what I have learned here in the CNMI.”

The exam focuses on four bodies of knowledge critical to the fight against fraud: Criminology & Ethics, Financial Transactions, Fraud Investigation and Legal Elements of Fraud. In addition, CFEs also undergo training to understand not only how fraud occurs, but why.

Fraud Examiners have a unique set of skills that are not found in any other career field or discipline combining knowledge of complex financial transactions with an understanding of investigation, law, and how to resolve allegations of fraud.

Nearly 45,000 anti-fraud professionals are members of the ACFE, and more than 20,000 of them have proven their dedication to the profession by obtaining the CFE designation. The designation is acknowledged globally and preferred by employers such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Government Accountability Office, to name a few.

Public Auditor Mike Sablan commended Donnalynn Castro on her recent achievement in earning the CFE professional designation. “I am so proud of Donna. I have no doubt that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to.”

Castro, a graduate of the University of Texas with a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice, joined OPA in August 2004. Castro also took part in a two-month auditor training program at the DOI Office of Inspector General in 2005. Castro is the daughter of Joaquin Quichocho Castro and Margarita Atalig Castro.