Auditor-General David Teika Dennis has resigned from his position to take up the role of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Dennis, a highly respected finance executive, has formally tendered his resignation to the Governor-General, effective 25 August 2026.
He will become the Ministry’s Secretary and principal accountable officer under the Public Financial Management Act 2013.
Dennis was appointed Auditor-General in September 2021. He has served in the role for almost five years.
His move to Finance will see him replacing McKinnie Dentana, who held the position for almost eight years.
Before becoming Auditor-General, Dennis held senior positions in the financial sector in Solomon Islands and the region. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of ANZ Banking Group in Timor-Leste and the Cook Islands.
Dennis said his decision to move to the Ministry of Finance is driven by a desire to help address weaknesses in the Government’s public financial management system.
He said recent government audits and Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability assessments have identified gaps in capacity that need to be addressed.
The transition has been approved by the Public Service Commission and will be managed under the ethical requirements of the Office of the Auditor-General and the Leadership Code.
Several safeguards have been put in place to manage potential conflicts of interest.
Dennis has already stepped aside from all active audits and investigations involving the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Once he becomes Permanent Secretary, he will not be involved in responding to audit queries relating to reports issued under his own signature as Auditor-General.
He will also remain legally bound by confidentiality requirements covering sensitive information obtained during his time at the Office of the Auditor-General.
The arrangements are intended to protect the independence, credibility and public confidence in the Office of the Auditor-General during the transition.
Deputy Auditor-General Vincent Misi will serve as Acting Auditor-General until a permanent appointment is made.
The transition is also intended to ensure that ongoing reforms at the Office of the Auditor-General continue without disruption.
