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OPA’s Diaz earns Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation
Joshua James Dela Cruz Diaz of the Office of the Public Auditor (OPA) has passed the examination to gain the designation of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).
In order to become a CFE, Diaz met a stringent set of criteria and passed a rigorous exam administered by the ACFE while also agreeing to abide by the CFE code of professional ethics. Diaz has also demonstrated knowledge in four areas critical to the fight against fraud: fraudulent financial transactions, fraud prevention and deterrence, legal elements of fraud and fraud investigation.
Diaz joins four other staff who have also earned their CFE designations. The preparation materials and exam itself was made accessible to Diaz and his colleagues through the Technical Assistance Program or TAP grant awarded by the Department of the Interior-Office of Insular Affairs.
Diaz has been employed with OPA since February 2018 and is currently an auditor. He graduated from the University of Guam with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Public Administration in 2017 and earned a Masters of Public Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2020. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Public Administration (DPA) and is expected to complete his DPA in 2024. Aside from in-house training at OPA, Diaz also attended a two-week training program called the Lakewood Experience sponsored by the Department of Interior-Office of the Inspector General in Lakewood, Colorado, in August 2019 as well as various trainings offered by the Association of Pacific Island Public Auditors and the USA Graduate School.
The ACFE is the world’s largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education. Together with more than 85,000 members, the ACFE is reducing business fraud worldwide and inspiring public confidence in the integrity and objectivity within the profession.
CFE designees represent the highest standards held by the ACFE and possess expertise in all aspects of the anti-fraud profession.
CFEs on six continents have investigated more than 1 million suspected cases of civil and criminal fraud.
CFEs have the ability to: examine data and records to detect and trace fraudulent transactions; interview suspects to obtain information and confessions; write investigation reports; advise clients as to their findings; testify at trial; understand the law as it relates to fraud and fraud investigations; and identify the underlying factors that motivate individuals to commit fraud.
OPA is very proud of Diaz’s achievement.