Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Treasury Department to have VI certified staff by 2026- SFC Report

- would eliminate need for importing expertise- Accountant General
The Treasury Department is hoping to have employees certified in accounting in the years to come eliminating the need for employing persons from outside the Virgin Islands. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
Accountant General Mr Arnold J. Ainsley said the Treasury Department expects to have certified staff on island reducing the need for imported expertise. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
Accountant General Mr Arnold J. Ainsley said the Treasury Department expects to have certified staff on island reducing the need for imported expertise. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Treasury Department of the Virgin Islands is hoping to have employees certified in accounting in the years to come, eliminating the need to employ persons from outside the territory.

According to the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) Report, Accountant General Mr Arnold J. Ainsley informed that, in terms of capacity building, the department had graduated three staff members with master’s degrees in the last two years.

At the time the SFC was being held, November to December 2024, one staff member had graduated two weeks prior while another was set to graduate soon. 

He also informed there was another staff member who was writing their final exams. This will bring the total to four employees trained at the master’s level in accounting. 

“The next step will be to encourage these individuals to become certified. Currently, two were registered for ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and two for CMA (Certified Management Accountant),” the report quotes Mr Ainsley as explaining. 

He also informed that within the next two years, the Treasury Department expects to have certified staff on island, “reducing the need for imported expertise”.

Top positions vacant 

Meantime, there seem to be a number of high-ranking positions within the Treasury Department currently vacant, including that of Deputy Accountant General. 

Mr Ainsley informed the committee that the department has been “short-staffed for several years”. 

Currently, out of 56 approved positions, 50 have been filled (18 males and 32 females). 

Among the vacant positions are Deputy Accountant General, Support Services Manager, Revenue Collection Officer, Financial Reporting Manager, Revenue Manager, and Compliance Officer.

Challenging period for Treasury Department

Mr Ainsley also said has been facing a challenging period, “working from 9:00 a.m until midnight, including Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to complete their tasks”.

According to the report, he noted that the team was undergoing training together, which contributed to the longer processing time. Additionally, he mentioned that he lost two Reporting Managers during this period and decided to identify a staff member from within the department to provide training.

5 Responses to “Treasury Department to have VI certified staff by 2026- SFC Report”

  • fish (13/01/2025, 08:45) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    He needs to go cheques are taking to long to print
  • Interesting (13/01/2025, 12:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Given that BVIs has provided financial services for 4 decades plus, it took a while for this program to come to life. Fantastic that there are three master’s degree level trained accountants on staff, but will they remain once they become certified and can get more coin the private sector? Maybe better not to go on about the “working from 9:00 a.m until midnight, including Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to complete their tasks”. Might explain the long standing vacancies.
    • Very interesting (13/01/2025, 16:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I believe that once the staff becomes certified, they may prefer transitioning to the public sector. A review of the annual Budget Book highlights that the Treasury Department is one of the lowest-paying departments compared to other ministries or departments with similar responsibilities. Despite being responsible for managing all government funds and ensuring everything is properly accounted for, they are not adequately compensated. This is particularly concerning given that their duties often require them to work "working from 9:00 a.m until midnight, including Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to complete their tasks”, as indicated in reports.
  • Really??? (13/01/2025, 14:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come to treasury and find a wife - (18 males and 32 females) - the odds are good.
  • Norris Turnbull (13/01/2025, 16:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is good but World have been grestvif the concentración was done thirty years ago.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.