How to Become an Auditor

Auditors play a critical role in any organization, ensuring sound financial accounting practices and regulatory compliance. As an auditor, you may work on behalf of a business, nonprofit organization or government agency such as the Internal Revenue Service.

What Does an Auditor Do?

Auditors review the financial records of private businesses, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and individuals to ensure accuracy and comprehensive reporting. They may work on behalf of a client or for a government regulatory agency.

Government auditors examine the records of government agencies and of businesses and individuals subject to government regulation or taxation. The government auditor's job may include responsibilities such as:

Auditing the internal financial records or data systems of a government agency
Reviewing financial data in support of fiscal policy initiatives and preparing financial impact reports
Assisting in budget analysis and administration
Ensuring that agencies receive the appropriate revenue from businesses, citizens or other public agencies
Reviewing tax returns and conducting audits for the Internal Revenue Service
Examining financial institutions to ensure compliance with federal regulations

Government auditors may work for local, state or federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service or Congressional Budget Office.

Internal auditors audit an organization's financial information and data systems. Key responsibilities of an internal auditor include:

Testing and improving the organization's internal controls for regulatory compliance and financial reporting accuracy.
Auditing internal financial records for accuracy, completeness and compliance with regulations
Developing automated systems to facilitate user access to accurate, timely financial records
Review auditing systems to identify possible sources of financial mismanagement or fraud
Assessing internal company operations to determine their efficiency and compliance with internal policies

Internal auditors may specialize in one of these responsibilities, focusing on either the financial, information systems or policy audit.

What Are the Steps to Becoming an Auditor?

Auditors must develop specialized accounting skills and technical training using financial reporting systems and databases. Formal training is a requirement for a career as an auditor; most auditors get their start with a bachelor's degree. Take these steps to establish your career in auditing:

While in high school, takes courses in mathematics, computer and IT training, and business, if available.
Evaluate your college degree options and earn a bachelor's degree. You can learn how to become an auditor by pursuing a bachelor's degree program in accounting or a related field such as business administration. More and more colleges and universities are offering specialized programs in areas such as internal auditing or information technology auditing.
Build your practical skills by pursuing a summer or part-time internship alongside your education.
Secure an entry-level auditor position, working under the supervision of an experienced auditor.

Establishing yourself as an auditor requires both formal training and on-the-job practice. The fundamentals you learn in college will help you succeed during on-the-job training.

How to Become a Great Auditor

You can learn how to become an auditor in college. Becoming a great auditor takes dedication and a drive for continued learning once you're established in a career.

Apply for Auditing Certification. Apply for professional certification in an auditing specialty. For example, as a government auditor you can earn recognition as a Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP). As an environmental auditor, you have access to the Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA) or Certified Energy Auditor designation.

Earn a Graduate Professional Degree. To advance your career, consider an MBA in accounting or auditing. These professional training programs are widely available online.

Professional Continuing Education Resources. You can also develop your expertise through continuing education courses, seminars and conferences. Professional associations that offer training include The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the Association of Healthcare Internal Auditors (AHIA), Council of Higher Education Internal Auditors, and the National Association of Construction Auditors, among others.

Specialize. Increase your value to an employer by building specialty expertise in your industry sector. You may choose to establish your expertise in one of these auditing specialty roles:

Information technology auditor
Environmental auditor
Compliance auditor
Health care auditor
Higher education internal auditor
Financial auditor
Financial crimes investigator
Taxation auditor
Construction auditor
Insurance premium auditor

Network. Advance your career by connecting with peers and potential mentors. The Institute of Internal Auditors has local chapters nationwide. Government auditors can join The National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers or the National State Auditors Association, both of which have local affiliates.

With favorable job opportunities forecasted for the coming decade, now is the perfect time for you to learn how to become an auditor. The Department of Labor expects employment for auditors and accountants to grow 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. The best opportunities will go to auditors with master's degrees or certification. Start your career as an auditor and tap into a bright future in financial, technical or regulatory auditing.

Resources for Auditors

Related Career Schools

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School	Locations	Degrees	Quick Info
AIU Online	Online	Bachelor, Master	Get Info
American InterContinental University	FL, GA, TX	Bachelor, Master	Get Info
Antonelli College	MS, OH	Associate	Get Info
Argosy University	AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, MN, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA	Bachelor, Doctorate	Get Info
Argosy University Online	Online	Bachelor	Get Info
Ashworth College	Online	Associate, Diploma	Get Info
Baker College Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
Bauder College	GA	Bachelor	Get Info
Berkeley College	NJ, NY	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Berkeley College Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Briarcliffe College	NY	Associate, Bachelor, Certificate	Get Info
Broadview University	UT	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Brookline College	NM	Associate	Get Info
Brown Mackie College	AL, AZ, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, MO, NM, OH, OK, SC	Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma	Get Info
California College San Diego	CA	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Career Point College	OK, TX	Diploma	Get Info
Central Coast College	CA	Diploma	Get Info
Central Pennsylvania College	PA	Associate, Bachelor, Certificate	Get Info
Charter College	AK, CA, WA	Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma	Get Info
CollegeAmerica	AZ, CO, WY	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Colorado Technical University	CO, MO, SD	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
Colorado Technical University Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
Concord Law School	Online	Master	Get Info
DeVry University	AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
DeVry University Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management	AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MD, MN, MO, NC, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI	Graduate Certificate, Master	Get Info
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management Online	Online	Graduate Certificate	Get Info
ECPI Online	Online	Associate, Diploma	Get Info
ECPI University	VA	Associate, Diploma	Get Info
Empire College	CA	Associate, Diploma	Get Info
Everest College	AZ, CA, CO, IL, MO, NV, ON, OR, TX, UT, VA	Associate, Bachelor, Diploma	Get Info
Everest Institute	FL, MI, NY, PA	Diploma	Get Info
Everest University	FL	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Everest University Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
Fortis College	OH, PA	Associate, Diploma	Get Info
Golden Gate University	CA, WA	Bachelor, Certificate, Certificate of Advanced Studies, Master	Get Info
Grand Canyon University	Online	Master	Get Info
Hallmark College	TX	Certificate	Get Info
Harris School of Business	NJ	Certificate	Get Info
Harrison College	IN, OH	Associate, Bachelor, Diploma	Get Info
Heald College	CA, HI, OR	Associate	Get Info
Herzing College	MB, ON, QC	Bachelor	Get Info
Hesser College	NH	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Institute of Technology	CA	Associate, Diploma	Get Info
Ivy Bridge College of Tiffin University Online	Online	Associate	Get Info
Jones International University	Online	Master	Get Info
Kaplan Career Institute	PA	Associate	Get Info
Kaplan University KHE	IA, MD, ME, NE	Associate, Bachelor, Certificate	Get Info
Kaplan University Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
Keiser University Campus	FL	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Keiser University eCampus Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
Lincoln College of Technology	KY, OH	Coursework	Get Info
Minnesota School of Business	MN	Associate, Bachelor, Diploma	Get Info
Morrison University	NV	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
National American University Campus	CO, KS, MN, MO, NM, SD, TX	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Northwestern College	IL	Associate, Certificate	Get Info
Pioneer Pacific College	OR	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Pittsburgh Technical Institute	PA	Associate, Certificate	Get Info
Rasmussen College	FL, IL, MN, ND, WI	Associate, Bachelor, Diploma	Get Info
Salter College	MA	Associate, Certificate	Get Info
Sanford Brown College	IL, MO	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute	TX	Diploma	Get Info
South University	Online	Associate, Master	Get Info
Southern Careers Institute	TX	Certificate	Get Info
Southwest Florida College	FL	Associate	Get Info
Stevens Henager College	ID, UT	Bachelor, Certificate	Get Info
Stratford Career Institute	Online	Diploma	Get Info
Strayer University	AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, UT, VA, WV	Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Master	Get Info
Sullivan University	KY	Associate, Diploma	Get Info
The University of Liverpool	Online	Master	Get Info
University of Phoenix	AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
University of Phoenix Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor, Master	Get Info
Virginia College Online	Online	Associate, Bachelor	Get Info
Walden University	Online	Bachelor	Get Info
Western International University	AZ	Bachelor, Certificate	Get Info

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