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Yolanda Branche 
Acting Auditor
May 26, 2011

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themail archives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
May 26, 2011

CONTACT: Karen Sibert
(202) 724-8164

DC COUNCIL CHAIRMAN KWAME R. BROWN NAMES ACTING AUDITOR

WASHINGTON, DC -- DC Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown has announced the selection of Yolanda Branche as acting auditor, effective June 1, 2011.

Currently a senior analyst in the Office of the DC Auditor, Ms. Branche is an attorney admitted to the District of Columbia Bar. Her diverse career includes service as counsel to the US Senate Judiciary Committee; special assistant to the Office of Postsecondary Education at the US Department of Education; chief of staff to the DC Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, as well as executive director for the Mayor's Task Force on the Future of the District of Columbia Public Library System.

"Yolanda has clearly demonstrated a commitment to the residents of the District of Columbia through her years of public service," said Chairman Brown. "I am confident that she will ably assist the Council in performing oversight, programmatic and budgetary duties with objective assessments of agency operations, policies, and programs."

Ms. Branche's nomination was vetted thoroughly by a search committee headed by former Mayor Anthony Williams.

"Chairman Brown asked me to chair the screening committee for the DC Auditor and I was happy to accept because I support the Chairman's vision of a robust, independent entity that can help the Council perform optimal oversight and the executive achieve better performance. The DC Auditor can become an even greater asset to the Council as reconciles its ambitious policy agenda with the reality of tight budgets. The screening committee was impressed with Yolanda Branche's vision for the office as well as the energy and enthusiasm she has for the job. Assuming her confirmation by the Council, we wish her well in her new position."

Ms. Branche holds a BA degree in History and Political Science from Tufts University, and a JD from The George Washington University.


Yolanda Branche

ybranche@aol.com
3102 Banneker Drive, N.E
Washington, D.C. 20018
Phone: (703) 861-0847

Certification
District of Columbia Bar Association

Senior Analyst
Office of the District of Columbia Auditor
March 2008 - Present

Ms. Branche led the audit team that found the Certified Capital Companies Program (CAPCO) did not achieve the desired impact on economic development in the District of Columbia. The CAPCO program cost $76 million, $54 million in set-up costs, and $22 million in investments. For $76 million, 31 new jobs were created. Other audits led by Ms. Branche include, the review of the operations of the Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals, and the examination of the Fleet Management Administration of the Department of Public Works.

Owner - Bayview Cards
January 2007 to March 2008
Bayview Cards is a stationer that provides distinctive, high quality, inspirational greeting cards.

Executive Director
The Mayor's Task Force on the Future of the District of Columbia Public Library System
January 2005 - January 2007

Mayor Williams appointed a Task Force to develop a plan to improve the public libraries of the District of Columbia. The Task Force traveled to eight public libraries in the U.S. and Canada to study best practices and develop recommendations. Ms. Branche coordinated Task Force meetings and managed the preparation of the Task Force report to the Mayor.

Consultant - The Events Management Group
September 2003 — December 2004
The Events Management Group is an events planning firm. Ms. Branche worked with the firm to produce a historical retrospective to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Other projects that Ms. Branche contributed to included the production of the National Visionary Leadership Project gala that was sponsored by Camille Cosby.

Vice President - In2Books
September 2002 - August 2003
In2Books was a non-profit association that provided training to D.C. Public School teachers and materials to students. Ms. Branche developed plans, procedures, and policies to implement the In2Books program.

Arthur Andersen - Senior Manager
February 2000 - August 2002
As a performance management expert, Ms. Branche directed the team that developed and implemented a long term strategy for the City of Flint, Michigan. In this capacity, Ms. Branche identified performance issues, conducted studies to improve business processes, and developed recommendations to increase economic development.

District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority - Chief of Staff
October 1996 - January 2000
The District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (Control Board) was established by Congress to return the District of Columbia to fiscal solvency, improve the delivery of services to District residents, and improve management of District agencies. As Chief of Staff, Ms. Branche was responsible for advancing the mission of the Control Board by coordinating the efforts of Control Board staff, agency officials, and Control Board members.

United States Department of Education - Office of Postsecondary Education Special Assistant
Developed procedures and guidelines to implement the direct student loan program. Managed the operations of the Office of Postsecondary Education.

United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary - Counsel
Prepared briefing materials, drafted legislation, and organized Senate Judiciary Committee hearings.

Education:
Tufts University, Medford Massachusetts, B.A. History, Political Science
George Washington University, Washington, D.C., J.D. National Law Center


[Job requirements as distributed by search firm]

District of Columbia Auditor – 6 Year Term

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AUDITOR

ROLE: The Office of the District of Columbia Auditor (ODCA) conducts audits and other analyses of D.C. agencies and programs to assist the D.C. Council in its oversight responsibilities and to improve the performance and efficiency of the D.C. government. The D.C. Auditor is appointed by the Council Chairman, subject to the approval of a majority of the Council, to a six-year term.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The D.C. Auditor’s primary responsibility is to conduct objective and high-quality audits of D.C. government agencies and programs to assess whether public funds are spent in an efficient and transparent manner. Specifically, the Auditor conducts statutorily-required audits of various programs, funds, and organizational entities in the D.C. government. For example, the Auditor is required to regularly audit the financial activities of the District’s 37 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. In addition, the Auditor conducts audits on its own initiative and at the request of Council members. As head of the ODCA, the Auditor is also responsible for establishing, reviewing, and evaluating the Office’s internal and external controls, policies, and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelors or Masters degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, public administration, public policy, finance, economics, business administration, or related field
  • Minimum of 5 years experience in governmental accounting and/or auditing

  • CIA or CGAP certification preferred

  • Comprehensive knowledge of generally accepted accounting and generally accepted governmental auditing principles, procedures, standards and techniques and ability to apply the same to highly complex audits of diverse District government programs, activities and accounts

  • Knowledge of the government structure of the District of Columbia, and its laws, regulations, rules, and standards

  • Knowledge of local government operations, procurement, budgetary and financial management policies and processes

  • Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise personnel consisting of both professional and administrative staff in a major organizational unit

  • Superior oral and written communication skills, including ability to present detailed concepts and factual information in a cohesive, concise and objective manner

  • Superior ability to exercise sound judgment, justify conclusions, make credible recommendations, and provide alternatives consistent with governmental auditing standards

  • Expertise in writing persuasive and well-supported reports and improving the writing skills of subordinate staff

  • Experience working with internal auditing committees or peer review committees

Vision for the Role of the DC Auditor

    • A transformative leader who can inspire the staff, the DC Council and the citizens to envision and embrace an Auditor’s office that focuses on accountability, effective program performance evaluations and support the Council in providing oversight while maintaining independence and objectivity.
    • Overall desire to take the office " to the next level"
    • Recalibrate functions of the office to better serve the short and long-term needs of the legislative branch of DC government
    • Focus on more high-impact issues that bear more directly on budget and policy issues confronting the Council by examining other ways of providing oversight of mandated audits of ANCs and the First Source program, perhaps by contracting for outside services to perform the most rudimentary functions.
    • Provide practical assistance that the Council and Executive Branch can use to improve government.
    • Expand the scope of work of the office from fundamental financial audits to more accountability.
    • Provide support to council members by providing data and evaluations.
    • Serve the Council and DC citizens by partnering with the Council to provide information beneficial to addressing and managing pressing issues while maintaining independence.
    • A visionary who can demonstrate the value and return on investment of providing additional resources to evolve to an office similar to the GAO.
    • Maintain political independence.
    • Engage the public and key stakeholders to ensure that the ODCA maintains public support for its work.

For more information or to submit a resume for consideration, please contact:

Cheryl Bedard, The McCormick Group, 703-841-1700 x233; cbedard@tmg-dc.com 

 

 

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