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GAO: Promoting Accountability and Transparency in Government

Cheryl Whitaker

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

U.S. Government Accountability Office

May 18, 2009

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GAO’s Mission

GAO exists to support the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people.

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GAO at a Glance

• An independent, nonpartisan agency in the legislative branch of the federal government

• 3,200 multi-disciplinary staff

• Issues hundreds of reports, congressional testimonies, and other products each year on breadth of federal responsibilities

• Guided by our strategic plan and core values

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Our Core Values

Accountability

Help the Congress oversee federal programs, policies and operations to ensure accountability to the American people.

Integrity

Ensure that our work is professional, objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, nonideological, balanced and fair

Reliability

Provide high-quality, timely, accurate, useful, clear, and candid information.

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Importance of Measurement

• Focuses on results

• Lends transparency

• Assures Congress, clients and taxpayers

• Shows return on investment or “value”

• What gets measured gets done!

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GAO’s Measurement Framework

• 6 year Strategic Plan

• Balanced Scorecard

• Performance Accountability Report

RESULTSRESULTSRESULTSRESULTS

CLIENTCLIENTCLIENTCLIENT

PEOPLEPEOPLEPEOPLEPEOPLE

INTERNAL OPERATIONS INTERNAL OPERATIONS INTERNAL OPERATIONS INTERNAL OPERATIONS

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People Measures

Measure 2008

Staff development 77%

Staff utilization 75%

Leadership 81%

Organizational climate 77%

New hire rate 96%

Retention rate 93%

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Internal Operations

Scale has been adjusted to illustrate trending in scores year over year.

3.86

4.013.96

4.10

3.98

4.10

4.004.05

3.983.984.014.00

3.5

4.0

4.5

Impact ability to get your job done Impact the quality of your work life

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Score

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Leading by Example

• Obtained 22nd consecutive “clean” opinion from independent auditors

• Unqualified opinions from two separate peer review teams on quality assurance systems

• Awarded Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA)

• Voluntary complied with OMB Circular A-123 and the Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act

• Expanded internal controls review program

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Accountability Resources on GAO.Gov

• List of GAO’s accountability partners

• Auditing and accountability links

• Best practices for government programs and activities

• GAO Federal Information System Controls Audit Manual (FISCAM)

• GAO/PCIE Financial Audit Manual

• Peer review results

• Special publications on auditing, evaluation guidance

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American Recovery & Reinvestment Act: GAO’s Role

• Conduct bimonthly reviews of selected state and localities

• Commenting on the estimates of the number of jobs

• Reviewing areas such as trade adjustment assistance, new education incentive grants, and efforts to increase small business lending

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Additional

Information

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Results Measures

Measures 1998 2008

Financial benefits(dollars in billions) $19.7 $58.1

Return on investment $58 $114

Nonfinancial benefits 537 1,398

Recommendations implemented 69% 83%

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Client Measures