Professional Background and Civic Involvement
Ma. Victoria R. Lopez has more than 30 years of experience in the audit of clients belonging to the banking, finance and insurance sector, hotels, real estate companies, universities and hospitals.
She was the Firm’s alternate representative to the KPMG Asean Committee on Management Consulting and country coordinator for the insurance and hospitality industries. She was in charge of the Professional Development Program of KPMG Manila from 1990 to 1992 and from 1994 to 1995, where she was responsible for the planning and implementation of professional development programs and the design, development and delivery of in-house courses.
She participated in various KPMG training programs either as trainor or participant. She attended the April 1998 KPMG Regional Orientation Programme for the United Nations Development Program and United Nations Population Fund Project in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the November 1997 KPMG International Enabling Technology Conference held in Melbourne, Australia, the KPMG Asean Partners Conference in Manila in 1993, the KPMG Asean Management Conference in 1990 and the Regional Train the Trainors Course for the KPMG Complete Audit Service in 1993, both held in Singapore.
She designed a comprehensive training program and developmental approach to auditing NGOs. She wrote an article on her work with NGOs entitled “Developmental Approach to Auditing NGOs”, which was published in the largest locally circulated daily newspaper.
Ma. Victoria R. Lopez holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accountancy from the University of the Philippines. She is currently a registered consultant of the Asian Development Bank and an active member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountant (PICPA).
Details of Work Experience:
- Former Partner-in-charge in various audit, advisory and consulting assignments for projects assisted by multilateral funding entities such as the Commission of the European Union, U.S. Agency for International Development, Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Plan International, World Vision International and Catholic Relief Services – USCC.
Government Accounting and Auditing
- Member of the 1995 consulting team for the Asian Development Bank Country Profile Implementation Project tasked with reviewing the tax, government accounting, auditing, budgeting, and fund release system of the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia.
- Former Lead Consultant for the design, customization, installation, and implementation of a computerized financial management system within the context of government, including design of the financial reports and training of users and administrators, for the Rural Infrastructure Development Project implemented by the Philippine Department of Agriculture and funded by the Asian Development Bank.
European Union – Government of the Philippines Cooperation
- From 1990 up to the present, Ma. Victoria Lopez is the Engagement Partner for the quarterly and annual audits of several Integrated Area Development Programmes funded under cooperative agreements between the European Union and the Government of the Philippines, operating under five line implementing agencies, DA, DAR, DOH, and PMS.
- Former Engagement Partner in the review of rural credit operations of several Integrated Area Development Programmes under the Department of Agriculture. The engagements involved a comprehensive review of the financial operations, including audit of partner and beneficiary organizations.
- Former Engagement Partner in Business Process Reengineering work for Integrated Area Development Programmes under the Department of Agriculture; one conducted in January-May 1997 and another conducted in November-December 1991. The engagements involved a comprehensive review of the financial and operational systems, leading to the installation and implementation of computerized accounting systems and preparation of financial and administrative manuals.
- Former Engagement Partner for the 1991-1992 bilateral management audit team that conducted a comprehensive review of the financial and operational systems of one Integrated Area Development Programme under the Department of Agriculture. This study resulted in revisions of the financing memorandum covering foreign-assisted projects, specifically the functional funds flow systems to funded projects. A technical paper on the key recommendations of the Firm was presented to the Commission Court of Auditors.
United Nations Development Fund and United Nations Population Fund
- In 1998, she was the Engagement Eartner for internal audit of the Philippine Offices, rendering reports on financial accountability, internal control and operations review conducted as part of the outsourced regional internal audit function.
Catholic Relief Services – USCC
- From 1991 to 1995, she was the Engagement Partner for audits of four nationwide projects funded under the US Food for Peace Program. Counterpart organizations include the 54 Dioceses nationwide under the CRS-USCC organization, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH).
World Vision International
- From 1989 to 1993, she was the Engagement Partner for the financial and operations review of more than 200 child care and community development projects in the Philippines, rendering reports on financial accountability, internal control and compliance with agreements. The reviews were conducted as part of the outsourced internal audit function, running from 1986 to 1993.
