Guam § 6235 - Certification Pay Differential for Certified Public Accountant, Certified Government

§ 6235. Certification Pay Differential for Certified Public Accountant, Certified Government

Financial Manager, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Internal Auditor.

(a) The Director of the Department of Administration shall ensure the following classified and/or

unclassified accounting, auditing, budgeting, and management professional positions within government of

Guam line agencies, the Office of Public Accountability, the University of Guam, the Guam Community

College, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, and the Guam Department of Education shall be given a

one-time incentive pay compensation as provided pursuant to this Section, to include, as follows:

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POSITION COMPENSATION

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

(b) Definitions. As used in this Section:

(1) “Board” means the Guam Board of Accountancy.

(2) “Accounting, Auditing, Budgeting, and Management Professional” means any employee in

the government of Guam line agencies, the Office of Public Accountability, the University of Guam,

the Guam Community College, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, or the Guam Department of

Education who are essential for the delivery, maintenance, and preparation of the financial statements

and fiscal management of the government of Guam.

(3) “Known-Promotional-Potential” (KPP) means an upward career mobility in a series of

positions within an organization without competition, and where at an earlier date an employee was

selected under a competitive examination.

(4) “Certified Public Accountant” (CPA) means anyone who has passed the United States of

America’s national CPA exam and is licensed on Guam, or who has reciprocity with the Guam Board

of Accountancy.

(5) “Certified Professional” means anyone who:

(A) has passed a nationally recognized exam;

(B) is duly certified to practice in their related field;

(C) is required to comply with the authorizing board in regards to continuing professional

education; and

(D) is required to comply with ethical and other professional standards.

(c) Recognition of the Professional Accounting Associations on Accounting Certification and

Leadership. The following are the nationally recognized professional certification organizations for the

respective professions:

(1) The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the world’s largest

association representing the accounting profession. The AICPA sets forth the Certified Public

Accountant (CPA) examination requirements and monitoring, ethical standards, and auditing

standards for the CPAs licensed to practice within the United States and its territories;

(2) The Association of Government Accountants (AGA) is the organization that establishes the

criteria for the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) exam and the ethical standards that

CGFMs must adhere to;

(3) The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is the largest anti-fraud organization,

and the organization that establishes the requirements of the Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE)

examination; and

(4) [No text]

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(A) The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is the largest global association of internal

auditors, and sets the examination requirements for the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

designation.

(B) The AICPA, AGA, ACFE, and IIA are the premier accounting and auditing

organizations and shall be recognized by I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan and I Liheslaturan

Guåhan as the professional organizations that establish the rigorous examination requirements of

their respective certifications for the accounting, government finance, anti-fraud, and internal

audit fields.

(d) Certification Pay Differential, Established.

(1) All government of Guam line employees, the Office of Public Accountability, the University

of Guam, the Guam Community College, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, and the Guam

Department of Education employees who have obtained a nationally recognized certification as a

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), Certified

Fraud Examiner (CFE), or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) shall be entitled to receive a single

certification pay differential.

(2) The pay differential shall be applicable only to a single certification accomplished by the

employee, whichever is higher, and will be processed based on only one (1) of the following,

depending on the highest certification accomplished:

(A) a Guam licensed CPA shall be eligible to receive a fifteen percent (15%) increase; or

(B) the CGFM, CFE, and CIA, which are nationally recognized but not required to be Guam

licensed, shall be eligible to receive a ten percent (10%) increase; or

(C) if the employee is a Guam licensed CPA prior to the enactment of this Act, Subsection

(2)(A) of this Subsection shall be applicable only.

(3) The pay differential shall apply and is limited to a single certification, and shall not be used

in any calculation of the rate of pay with respect to overtime, and shall not be considered pay or

compensation in any calculation of enhanced compensation otherwise provided by law.

(4) The employee salary must be commensurate with the currently approved government of

Guam pay/wage scale. Any deviation from the currently approved government of Guam pay plan shall

not qualify for the differential pursuant to this Subsection (d).

(5) The Director of Administration, the President of the Guam Community College, and the

President of the University of Guam shall implement a single certification pay differential for all the

CPA, CGFM, CFE, and CIA who are active in their area of certification. Accounting, auditing,

budgeting, and management professionals who have a national or Guam board certification shall be

entitled to the certification pay differential provided in Item (1) of this Subsection, calculated at the

rates above, added to the base pay to rectify an inequity in certification pay.

(e) Developmental Promotions (KPP) Designation. Government of Guam line agencies, the Office of

Public Accountability, the University of Guam, the Guam Community College, the Guam Memorial

Hospital Authority, and the Guam Department of Education who recruit professionals in accounting,

auditing, budgeting, or management shall be authorized to hire such professionals as “known-promotional-

potential” on the basis of CPA, CGFM, CIA, or CFE certifications, as provided in the Government of Guam

Personnel Rules and Regulations and Operations Procedure Manual. A KPP qualified employee shall be

entitled to the pay differential provided in one (1) initial certification pay increase based on Subsection (c).

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(f) Implementation. The Director of Administration, the President of the Guam Community College,

and the President of the University of Guam shall transmit a status report to the Speaker of I Liheslaturan

Guåhan every quarter after the enactment of this Act, and upon the implementation of the provisions within

this Act.