An accountant in the public service got high praise for working “beyond routine expectations”.

Ziafra Wade-Davis, who works in the Accountant-General’s department, received the Public Service Excellence Award for June.

A government spokeswoman said Ms Wade-Davis, a bank reconciliation administrator, had been recognised for her exceptional commitment to innovation, accountability and continuous improvement in public service.

Ms Wade-Davis’s efforts were highlighted when she completed almost half of the year-end reconciliations for the Accountant-General’s cash portfolio, an area outside of her formal training, in preparation for an upcoming audit of the Consolidated Fund.

She delivered results two months ahead of schedule and consistently demonstrated initiative, diligence and integrity, the spokeswoman said.

She added that Ms Wade-Davis’s proactive efforts got glowing feedback from client departments, delivering insights and solutions aligned with international best practices, financial instructions and relevant legislation.

David Burt, the Premier, who congratulated Ms Wade-Davis, said: “Ziafra’s efforts to streamline processes have helped save time and reduce costs to taxpayers.

“I enjoyed speaking with her and learning more about the impact of her work. These are the kinds of skills we want to see shared across the public service to improve efficiency.

“She has demonstrated a level of leadership in her role as bank reconciliations administrator that makes her truly deserving of this award.”

Cherie Whitter, head of the public service, added: “Ziafra’s initiative and problem-solving mindset highlight the talent within our public service.

“As public officers, we must be proactive, innovative and focused on preparing for the future. She is a great example of what it means to go above and beyond.”

The spokeswoman said Ms Wade-Davis’s efforts also “dramatically improved” the reconciliation process for the Traffic Control Department during a recent training exercise.

Using advanced Microsoft Excel techniques, she said the accountant streamlined a task that once took more than four weeks to less than an hour.

The feat reflected Ms Wade-Davis’s ability to think critically, solve problems efficiently and lead innovation within her unit, the spokeswoman said, adding that her work ethic aligned with the Government’s public service strategic plan to “build a more capable public service that is accountable, citizen-focused and prepared for the future”.

The awards scheme recognises a group or individual within the public service who has made significant achievements in service delivery in the past 60 days.