Career Advice for an Auditor

Auditors assist businesses in developing strategies to improve and ensure compliance with internal control systems, policies, and procedures.

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How to Become an Auditor

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Auditor

Should you wish to work as an Auditor you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Auditor

  • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or Computer Science.
  • At least three years of experience.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and financial software.
  • Chartered Accountant: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Key Responsibilities for an Auditor

  • Developing policies and procedures to ensure adherence with national laws and regulations.
  • Evaluating, developing, and implementing control systems using new technologies.
  • Examining contracts, documents, receipts, and reports, comparing them to business assets and liabilities.
  • Investigating discrepancies, issues, and operational problems.
  • Improving operational efficiency through data and documentation interpretation.
  • Creating reports and presenting results to managers and senior executives.

What to expect as an Auditor

Auditors analyse data, collect information, and identify issues and control system vulnerabilities. To become a successful Auditor, you will need to be organised, analytical, and have excellent attention to detail. Auditors also require expert knowledge of policies, procedures, financial law, and national regulations. Working as an Auditor, you should expect to leverage your problem-solving, mathematical, communication, and planning skills.

Recommended Auditor Jobs

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How to get Auditor Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Auditor job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Auditor application. If you have not held an Auditor position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Auditor role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Auditor CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Auditor application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Auditor in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Auditor 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Auditor and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Auditor experience.

How to get Auditor Experience

What does it take to be an Auditor? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Auditor jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Auditor through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Auditor Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Auditor part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Auditor or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Auditor freelance work

If you have impressive Auditor qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.