In January 1966 Mr. Dorrian became Treasurer of the City of Columbus, Ohio. He was appointed City Auditor in September 1969 and has served in that role to the present time. The City Auditor in Columbus is statutorily described as the City's "chief accountant" and chief fiscal officer. Mr. Dorrian has had successful elections in 1969, 1973, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2009.
During his terms as City Auditor, accounting and reporting for the City was converted from cash and encumbrance accounting to generally accepted accounting principles as applicable to government. From 1979 through 2011, thirty two consecutive years, Mr. Dorrian received the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. Mr. Dorrian was a charter member of the Board of the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association.
The Columbus City Treasurer and City Auditor, along with the Director of Finance, manage the investment portfolio of the City. This portfolio consists primarily of federal government securities, agencies, federal government sponsored enterprises and State of Ohio pooled investments. In 2012, the portfolio exceeded $1.7 billion.
Through August 2012, Mr. Dorrian has been directly involved in the issuance of $14.123 billion of municipal securities; $5.003 billion of short term notes and $9.120 billion of long term bonds and loans. These debt instruments have included tax exempt notes with maturities from seven to seventy days, variable rate revenue and general obligation bonds, current refundings, advance refundings, credit enhancements with both foreign and domestic banks, the traditional general obligation notes and bonds, Build America Bonds and other taxable bonds.
For over 19 years Mr. Dorrian served as a member of the board of trustees of the Police and Firemen's Disability and Pension Fund of Ohio and a member of its investment committee. The Fund's investment portfolio consisted of cash and cash equivalents, stocks, bonds, venture capital, and real estate investments. Mr. Dorrian's term expired in June, 1992.
In March 1991 Mr. Dorrian visited Moscow, Leningrad and Puskin, Russia conferring with numerous academic and municipal finance officials. This visit resulted in an invitation from the Leningrad/St. Petersburg City Council to Mr. Dorrian to return in February 1992 in order to conduct an accounting/auditing seminar for Russian academic, government and joint venture officials and aspirants.
During various quarters of the academic years 1984 to 2006, Mr. Dorrian served as a lecturer at the Ohio State University graduate School of Public Policy and Management, now known as The John Glenn School of Public Affairs, teaching the accounting course titled, "Governmental and Non-Profit Accounting."
Mr. Dorrian has served on numerous investment committees and finance committees as a volunteer. In 1987, Mr. Dorrian served as a member of the nominating committee of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. In 1995 Mr. Dorrian was honored as a finalist for the AICPA Outstanding CPA in Government Award by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and in 1996 received the "Ethics in Government Award" from the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association. In 1998, Mr. Dorrian was honored by receiving the "Outstanding Local Public Service Award" from the Ohio State University School of Public Policy and Management. In 2000, Mr. Dorrian received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Government Finance Officers’ Association and the Minority/Female Business Advocate Award from the City of Columbus. In 2002, Mr. Dorrian received the Gold Knight of Management Award for Achievement as a Professional Manager from the Buckeye Council of National Management Association. In 1992, Mr. Dorrian received from Pope John Paul II the “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” (“for the Church and the Pope”) medal.