SAIPAN — Northern Marianas College has received an unmodified or “clean” audit opinion for fiscal year 2025, the college announced, marking 19 consecutive years of clean audits with zero findings and a 19th straight year as a federally designated low-risk auditee.
An unmodified opinion means the college’s financial statements present fairly and accurately and conform in all material respects with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The absence of findings means auditors identified no material weaknesses, significant deficiencies or instances of noncompliance in NMC’s internal controls over financial reporting.
The low-risk auditee designation under the Single Audit Act and federal Uniform Guidance is a formal validation that the college manages millions of dollars in federal, local and other funds with reliable internal controls. Earning it requires timely annual audit submissions, clean opinions, no material weaknesses, no auditor concerns about the institution’s ability to continue operating and no findings or questioned costs on major federal programs. The status reduces administrative burden on grant applications and reflects higher federal confidence in the college, which said it is one of the few entities in the CNMI to hold both a clean audit and low-risk designation with timely submissions.
“Achieving 19 years of clean audits reflects something deeper than good bookkeeping — it reflects trust,” said Interim President Frankie M. Eliptico. “Despite leadership transitions, natural disasters, a pandemic, and other challenges, the unmodified audit opinion tells our students, our community, and our federal and local partners that NMC is an institution they can count on and hold accountable.”
“This is incredibly important as we continue on historic efforts to build a brand new campus and depend on local, federal, and philanthropic funds to do so,” Eliptico said.
David Attao, the college’s chief financial officer, said the run reflects institution-wide commitment. “Almost two decades of continuously performing at such a high level is a testament to the cultural buy-in and belief of quality improvement shared amongst the college,” Attao said. “At NMC, our team approach to being prudent, accountable, responsible, and reasonable stewards of funds shows that at every level, we really care and can prove that we will take care of the resources entrusted to us.”
The college credited financial stewards at every level over the past 19 years, from the Board of Regents and administrators to program leaders, finance and procurement staff, faculty and students, and noted the streak held even as NMC transitioned from legacy student data and accounting systems to a new enterprise-wide system.
