Profile Of The Week: Atty. Dr. Samora P. Z. Wolokolie – A Committed Civil Servant

This week we once again highlight the professional services of one of Liberia’s committed and professional individuals, who has made his marks over the years making sure that his motherland, Liberia gain the rightful space amongst the comity of nations.

Dr. Samora P. Z. Wolokolie, Ph.D., CFE, CA, CPA, FCFIP, FIPA (Aus), FFA (UK), CTP, L.L.B., who is also a legal luminary, due to his professional and nationalistic services to his people and country has won our weekly profile slot.

According to information gathered by the GNN, Attorney Wolokollie has gained for himself a laudable respect from his compatriots, particularly from his fellow employees at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, where he serves as Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs.

According to report, during the course of his professional career in business and finance spanning over fourteen unbroken years, ‘P.Z’ as he is affectionately call has lived and worked in Liberia as Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs aimed at managing the financial resources of Liberia; develop and administer the financial rules and regulations of the republic, he oversees and executes all matters relating to government accounting, including pay, pensions, and other allowances as well as develop fiscal policy.

Additionally, he is responsible to oversee all matters concerning the framing of proposals regarding tax and non-tax revenue, tax reform as part of fiscal consolidation, coordinate with and generally perform all such services relative to the management of government finances through adequate cash management functions as may be required by law, and implement expenditure proposals of Ministries and Agencies of Government as appropriated in the budget. Immediately prior to his appointment as Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning by His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, Hon. Wolokolie served as Managing Partner of a BICON. INC. national firm a firm he co owns; his professional experience includes a period of service with Baker Tilly, Liberia (then VOSCON INC) and PKF, Liberia at senior management levels (Before joining BICON, Inc.), Atty.

Dr. Wolokolie is a recognized, professional accountant, auditor, tax practitioner and lawyer in Liberia and has served as Engagement Manager in-charge of Audit and Tax as well as Audit Supervisor at Baker Tilly, Liberia (then VOSCON, INC) and PKF, Liberia, respectively. He also served as Director of the Internal Audit Division at the Ministry of Finance under a definite World Bank / GOL contract. Atty. Dr. Wolokolie is an adjunct lecturer of Auditing, Taxation and Accounting at the Arthur Barclay Business College of the Stella Maris Polytechnic University, the University of Liberia and Cuttington University graduate schools. He has spoken at various professional gatherings, forums, workshops, symposiums and seminars in and out of Liberia.

Samora is a multi-skilled professional, business consultant and national leader. His successful track record as a high-level consulting and risk management, tax and audit practitioner in competitive national and international markets has required, a willingness to appreciate, learn and successfully employ skills in a number of key multi-disciplinary areas. Samora’s skill sets and prior experience include:

• Business evaluation and Corporate Strategy
  • Corporate Governance, Risk Management, and Internal Audit
  • Process Mapping and the Design / Implementation of Control Systems
  • Financial Management
  • Corporate Financial and Regulatory Reporting
  • Audit and Assurance (External and Internal)
• Project Management, training, and Human Resource Management
• Litigation

Samora is a Liberian scholar; he is an Attorney at Law, and a graduate of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia; he is also a member of the Liberia National Bar Association; he holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master of Science (MSc.) respectively, in Forensic Accounting & Audit from the Charisma University in the Turks & Caicos Islands, United Kingdom in February, 2020 and February, 2016 respectively; Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting from the Cuttington University in 2007. He is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and member of the Liberian Institute of Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiner, USA and Certified Forensic Investigation Professional (CFIP) and member of the International Institute of Certified Forensic Investigation Professional of Kenya and USA.

He is also a Fellow of the Financial Accountants of the United Kingdom, a member of the Liberian Institute of Tax Practitioners and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants of Australia. His ability to blend his core technical expertise, broad managerial competencies and varied work-experiences with his relationship-building (interpersonal) and leadership skills, has underpinned his professional and career successes over the last one and a half-decade.

Samora managed audits of USAID contractors receiving contracts and grants for capacity building projects in Liberia. The objectives of the audits were to determine that: charges to contracts and grants were properly supported and reasonable, internal control structure was adequate, overhead costs were allocated in compliance with contract provisions and applicable laws and regulations. The audits were performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, Government Auditing Standards, and provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Dr. Samora P. Z. Wolokolie has overseen large, multi-site audit and consulting engagements for entities with complex organizational structures and accounting systems. Dr. Wolokolie prepared numerous management letters recommending improvements in the internal controls for a wide variety of accounting systems in both the public and private sectors. Additionally, he managed the implementation of system improvements such as the standardization of accounting procedures among related entities.

Atty. Dr. Samora P. Z. Wolokolie is the author of two books, namely: “Forensic Accounting Analytics and Pension Fund Administration: A Study of Selected Administrators in Liberia” & “Combating Money Laundering: A Guide to Forensic Investigation Professionals”. These books are published on amazon.

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