TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA — For a 12th straight year, the Cherokee Nation was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. It is the highest honor given to governments for stellar financial reporting and accounting by the Government Finance Officers Association.

“This honor represents the highest level of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting,” said Bill John Baker, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Winning this award speaks to the value of Cherokee Nation Treasurer Lacey Horn and the entire Financial Resources Department in ensuring we remain good stewards of Cherokee resources.”

To earn the award, an audit of the tribe’s 2012 financial operations and all its businesses and non-profit components were judged by an impartial panel to ensure it met the highest standards, including transparency.

“We are grateful to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for their continued recognition of the Cherokee Nation’s comprehensive annual financial reports. The GFOA is one of the most prestigious organizations for government finance professionals,” said Cherokee Nation Treasurer Lacey Horn. “This award reflects well of the Nation on a national level, and Cherokee citizens should feel confident in the financial reports of the Nation. On behalf of the many talented contributing professionals across the Cherokee Nation and those in the Financial Resources Department, we are honored to accept this award yet again.”

The tribe’s Financial Resources Department, not only oversees the tribe’s operating budget, but also the accounting and maintenance of multiple federal grants, employee payroll and the purchasing department.

The Government Finance Officers Association has offices in Chicago and Washington D.C. and serves about local and tribal governments to go beyond the minimum accepted accounting requirements.17,500 government professionals.