American Samoa Legal Aid has been given a clean bill of financial health by the Office of Inspector General of its grantor Legal Services Corporation.
The firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, an independent public accountant under contract with the Legal Services Corporation, Office of Inspector General conducted a Quality Control Review of ASLA’s external auditor Deloitte & Touche for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The primary purpose of the review was to determine whether the financial statement audit work, compliance audit work and the associated review of internal controls over both the financial reporting and compliance were conducted in accordance with applicable standards.
The contractor’s report dated November 30, 2018, concluded that the audit of American Samoa Legal Aid, Inc. currently meets generally accepted auditing standards, Government Auditing Standards, the requirements of Uniform Guidance and the requirements of the LSC Audit Guide for Recipients and Auditors.
ASLA’s Executive Director Fainu’ulelei Ala’ilima-Utu stated he is grateful to God for helping ASLA achieve timely, clean, unqualified financial and compliance audit opinions for 2017, 2016 and 2015 from Deloitte & Touche.
He said, “Reading the actual report of the QCR of ASLA’s 2017 Audit reaffirms my belief that ASLA’s successful external audits have been conducted in accordance with high standards.”
“Fa’afetai to Deloitte and Touche, the Legal Services Corporation’s Office of Inspector General and the firm of McBride, Lock & Associates.”
The executive director commented, “The hard work of ASLA’s accounting firm May & Associates, consultant, board financial adviser, staff attorneys, office manager and support staff contributed to the success of these audits. I also wish to acknowledge the guidance of ASLA’s supportive ASLA Board: outgoing President Tafa Tua-Tupuola, Vice President Larry Sanitoa, Secretary/Treasurer Marian McGuire, Aaron Thomas and Lornalei Meredith.”
