NOTE: Effective August 1, 2011, the Middle East Regional Office (MERO) became the Middle East Region Operations Directorate, Office of Audits.
The Office of Audits is committed to improving the management and conduct of programs and activities by providing its customers with timely, balanced, and credible independent evaluations and financial audits that identify systemic problems and recommend constructive solutions as well as report best practices.
The Office of Audits conducts and coordinates audits and program evaluations of the management and financial operations of the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). These audits include performance and financial audits of internal operations as well as financially related audits of external activities funded by the Department and BBG through contracts or financial assistance, such as loans, grants, and cooperative agreements. The audits are used to evaluate whether established goals and objectives are achieved and resources are used economically and efficiently; assess whether intended and realized results are consistent with laws, regulations, and good business practices; and test financial accountability and the reliability of financial statements.
The Office of Audits is organized into seven functional divisions:
For more information on each division, click on the division name.
The Contracts and Grants Division is mandated and often requested to perform various audits and reviews and provide advisory services to the Department of State. These efforts include conducting audits of contracts and grants to determine incurred costs and compliance with terms and conditions and also to determine whether the contractor/grantee is accurately accounting for Federal funds used.
The Financial Management (FM) Division assists the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) in achieving effective financial management of their programs and adequate accountability over their resources. FM’s responsibilities include conducting audits of financial management issues, activities, and operations, including overseeing the annual financial statement audits. The Department accounts for more than $22 billion in total financing and $59 billion in assets, while BBG accounts for more than $745 million in total financing and $295 million in assets. FM works mainly with the Chief Financial Officers and their staffs, but FM work can be performed at any bureau or post.
The Human Capital and Infrastructure Division conducts audits and other reviews that assist the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to effectively and efficiently utilize human capital and other resources to meet operational and infrastructure needs in support of their respective missions. The Department and BBG have more than 29,800 Foreign Service, Civil Service, and Foreign Service National personnel at over 260 locations domestically and overseas and spend approximately $17 billion annually in support of their operations.
Protecting people, facilities, and information is one of the Department of State’s highest priorities and greatest challenges, and billions of dollars are spent each year to fund these activities. Responsibilities of the Security and Intelligence (SI) Division include conducting audits and reviews of Department programs, policies, procedures, and organizational elements designed to protect people, facilities, and information. SI examines the management and administration of security and intelligence programs at headquarters, overseas posts, and Broadcasting Board of Governors facilities. SI seeks to find ways to help security professionals become more efficient and effective in their work at a time when staffing shortages, increased security requirements, and the demands of high-threat posts have increased the workload of Department security personnel.
The Information Technology Division conducts audits, reviews, and evaluations of the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) information technology (IT) management and IT security programs and initiatives. The division examines the Department’s and BBG’s efforts to protect their global IT infrastructures and reviews the effectiveness of IT security management programs at bureaus and overseas posts. The division also reviews issues related to the cost-effective acquisition, development, implementation, and management of major IT systems; telecommunications networks; and other technologies across the Department and BBG.
The division assists the Department and BBG in identifying and mitigating IT risk exposure; enhancing the efficiency of critical in-house governance, internal audit, and regulatory compliance functions; and promoting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems by requiring appropriate corrective actions to address deficient internal controls.
Responsibilities of the Audit Operations (AO) Division include conducting quality control reviews of audits, coordinating and tracking compliance with audit recommendations, performing workforce planning and analysis for the Office of Audits, developing and managing budget information in coordination with the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) budget office, recruiting and hiring qualified auditors and analysts, and managing the continuing professional education requirements for auditors. AO also provides statistical sampling and technical methodology support, editing services for all published and official documents, and a full range of administrative support to all Office of Audits divisions. AO serves as the primary liaison with other OIG offices and outside entities.
Middle East Region Operations Directorate (MERO)
The Middle East Region Operations Directorate is headed by the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for MERO in Washington, DC. In addition to its one division in the DC office, MERO has four other divisions, which are located in Cairo, Egypt; Baghdad, Iraq; Kabul, Afghanistan; and Islamabad, Pakistan. All of the MERO divisions plan, coordinate, and oversee high-cost, high-risk Department programs in crisis and post-conflict areas in the Middle East, including countries in Northern Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia. In particular, staff members conduct audits and evaluations of the Department’s programs, oversight of these programs, contracts, grants, contractor performance, and procurement-related activities. More specifically, MERO audits and evaluates embassy operations and personnel security, as well as the effectiveness of Department foreign assistance programs related to refugees, anti-corruption, police training, and rule of law, among others.
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