Osage Nation Releases 2022 Audit Report, Shows Strong Accountability and Effective Oversight

Chief Standing Bear Celebrates Nation Employees and Cross-Departmental Cooperation 

OSAGE NATION SERVICE AREA, Okla. (August 9, 2023) – During the Osage Nation Congress 7th Special Session held on July 31, 2023, an independent audit report was presented to Congress showing the 2022 Osage Nation Financials to have top-tier accountability and oversight, containing zero significant deficiencies or material weaknesses to report. 

“We are grateful to the Osage Nation employees for these incredible results, especially the Treasury, Accounting, and Grants Departments,” said Chief Standing Bear. “This massive accomplishment speaks to their hard work and dedication.” 

Mr. Mike Dierlam from REDW, an independent CPA firm based in Phoenix, AZ, presented the findings to the Osage Nation Congress. Mr. Dierlam has been working on the Nation’s audits for the last three years to support the Nation’s accountability processes. Osage Nation’s reconciliation process, grants management, and statement preparedness significantly contributed to the audit's success and have been responsible for decreased findings and deficiencies spanning the last three years. 

Mr. Dierlam stated: “The Grants Program has the cleanest, unmodified opinions, uniform guidance, and single audit findings I have ever seen. All of this speaks volumes about the quality personnel that have joined the Nation’s governmental team in recent years and the hard work that is going into making the Osage Nation a strong, reliable, and competitive force within Oklahoma.”

REDW is a Certified Public Accounting firm that commonly assists Tribal Governments and federal award audits, collaborating with more than 200 Tribal Government clients. REDW offers financial solutions, accounting, audit, tax, and wealth management for individuals, mid-market companies, and Tribal Nations. According to Mr. Dierlam, at least 60 to 70 percent of all Tribal Governments have some significant deficiency or material weakness reported during their audit. 

“Osage Nation has a strong team of dedicated professionals who have worked hard to set a high bar, and we plan to maintain it,” said Osage Nation Treasurer Tyler McIntosh.

The audit presentation was recorded and can be found on the Osage Nation YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/osagenationnsngovmedia. A copy of the audit is available at www.osagenation-nsn.gov/government/executive-branch/treasury. 

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