The Virgin Islands’ new auditor general began work on Monday.
Phil Sharman, a native of the United Kingdom, had his first meeting with various public officers including Acting Governor Rosalie Adams, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith and Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie, who also serves as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, according to Government Information Services.
“I am honoured to take this position as auditor general,” Mr. Sharman told GIS. “It is a constitutional office and I fully respect and understand the obligations the office brings.”
He explained that his top two priorities will be to bring the public financial reporting up to date and to build the capacity of the Audit Office while assisting the Public Accounts Committee.
“It is going to be challenging, though, because one of the things we are facing is an arrears in financial reporting and we need to be able to get the audits up to date now that we have the accounts with us, and that’s going to be a big part of my work,” the new auditor general said.
Mr. Sharman previously served as the auditor general for St. Helena, a post he had been at since 2014. The VI post has been vacant since the former auditor general retired in September 2015.
Mr. Sharman was hired after three comprehensive rounds of recruitment, according to GIS.
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