A senior staff of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) of Liberia, Mr. Jarwo N. Cooper, has successfully earned the distinguished Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification after passing all three parts of the globally recognized examination administered by The Institute of Internal Auditors (The IIA).
Mr. Cooper currently serves the IAA as Executive Director for Special Audits & County Treasuries. His achievement marks a historic milestone for the IAA, as he becomes the first non-presidential appointee within the Agency to attain the CIA designation. This accomplishment reflects both personal dedication and the IAA’s institutional commitment to fostering a culture of professionalism and excellence among its staff.
The CIA certification represents the highest standard of competence in the field of internal auditing worldwide. It equips professionals with advanced knowledge and practical expertise to promote transparency, accountability, and effective governance within public institutions.
This milestone achievement by Mr. Cooper directly aligns with Strategic Goal #1 of the IAA’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, which prioritizes professionalizing the institution by supporting internal auditors to pursue globally recognized certifications such as CIA, CPA, ACCA, CA, and CISA, among others.
The examinations were sponsored by the World Bank as part of its ongoing support to strengthen the human capacity of Liberia’s integrity institutions, including the Internal Audit Agency. Through this support, several IAA employees are currently pursuing various stages of the CIA examinations, aimed at enhancing their technical competence and institutional performance.
The Director General of the IAA, Hon. David A. Kemah and team have commended Mr. Cooper for his outstanding performance and perseverance, noting that his success underscores the Agency’s renewed focus on building a corps of highly skilled internal auditors capable of delivering value-added audit services to government institutions. It has further reaffirmed its commitment to continuing investment in staff development as a critical pathway to sustaining the integrity and credibility of the internal audit functions across the public sector.
IAA believes that the success of Mr. Cooper is not just a personal victory, but a collective inspiration for all staff of the IAA; as it demonstrates what is achievable when hard work meets opportunity. This achievement sets the tone for many others within the Agency to follow suit as it moves toward a fully professionalized internal audit workforce.
Mr. Cooper’s accomplishment is a shining example of the IAA’s drive toward excellence and global relevance. It sends a strong message that the Agency is on the right path toward achieving its vision of becoming a premier internal audit institution that promotes accountability, transparency, and effective governance in the management of public resources.