City commissioners last Wednesday awarded Pembroke Pines accountant Karin Lu the employee of the third quarter award.

Lu and the entire seven-member Pines Finance Department also won the Government Finance Officers Association's (GFOA) certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2007.

"Karen has demonstrated strong work ethics and has been a valuable asset to the department," said Rene Gonzalez, Pines finance director.

To earn the GFOA award, city finance departments must publish an easily readable and organized comprehensive annual financial report, said Charles Dodge, city manager.

This is the 23rd consecutive year the Pines Finance Department has won the GFOA certificate of achievement, added Gonzalez.