becoming an auditorIf you have been considering investing your time and money into a career that enables you to dissect the inner workings of nearly any aspect of a business, a career that offers complexity and challenge while bringing variety to your future, and a career that is only expected to become more in demand in the future, becoming an auditor may be for you.

Before you make the decision to further your education and take the plunge into the wide sea of auditing opportunities, however, you should consider a few things.

Do You Have What It Takes to Become An Auditor?

In order to succeed in this in-demand career, a few personal characteristics are essential to have.

  • Strong Work Ethic: If you are the type of individual who might be more than tempted to just "let things go" from time to time in order to reduce you or your colleagues' workload, avoid embarrassing processes, bypass sticky situations like performance issues or possible fraud, or simply to dodge conflict, this type of career is probably not a good match. In order to be successful as an auditor, you must possess the structure and focus to report issues (or possible issues) as you come across them. This is not a field for people pleasers.
  • Communication Skills: Having strong communication skills can enable an auditor to develop a good rapport with a wide variety of employees at multiple levels. A good rapport often results in more accurate results, less resistance to informational requests, and improved future performance.
  • Professional Skepticism: Perhaps one of the most important characteristics a successful auditor can possess, professional skepticism enables you to more easily identify possible fraud and hidden or inaccurate information. Knowing what to look for and being able to develop an effective system for deterring such activities can help protect an organization's assets. In essence, your services become invaluable.
  • Versatility: As an auditor, you will likely discover that it is in your best interest to expect the unexpected. Since no two days are alike, you should possess the ability to "go with the flow" and accept new challenges as they arise.

Careers as an Auditor

While auditors are often employed in a wide variety of different types of positions, in essence there are two basic kinds of auditors: internal auditors and external auditors.

Internal Auditors

Internal auditors can be temporary or full time employees. They typically work to improve a company's overall efficiency, identify fraud, evaluate processes and procedures, and deliver assessments to management. Although an internal auditor has the benefit of working with a single organization, he or she must often be able to focus on numerous types of operations at once. Since many smaller companies cannot afford to employ the services of an internal auditor throughout the year, they often choose to outsource their needs.

External Auditors

External auditors are often employed by auditing agencies. Since they frequently move from one company to the next, and may deliver their services to a variety of businesses at once, external auditors must possess the ability to be extremely versatile in their field.

Educational Requirements

Individuals with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a strong concentration in accounting are excellent candidates for a career in auditing. Coursework that focuses on a wide variety of course subjects and programs that offer externships which enable students to experience real-world scenarios are most effective at preparing individuals for careers in Auditing.

Upon completion of an effective degree program, the successful candidate should possess the ability to:

  • Identify and deter fraud
  • Effectively analyze business reports, financial reports and economic reports
  • Develop effective business plans that overcome business challenges
  • Ensure compliance with government and tax laws and regulations
  • Apply ethical behavior in challenging business situations

Get on the Path to Become an Auditor

Are you ready to take the next step toward a rewarding career that offers challenge, versatility, and job security? Would you like to begin your future in as little as 2.5 years? ECPI University offers the classroom training, coursework, and real world experiences that will effectively prepare you for a career as a successful auditor. To find out more about earning your Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, or for more information about a career in auditing, contact ECPI University today. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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