Starting a career as an auditor will give you the skills to prepare, examine and assess all the financial records of an organisation to ensure its smooth and legal operation throughout a financial year. This is one of the most exciting and respected careers in the business and finance sector. This is because auditors play a huge role in every industry sector. As a result, they are in demand by any organisation or company. A career as an auditor will allow you to review financial records such as financial statements, general ledger and expense reports. You will play a big role in detecting fraudulent activities and preparing tax returns for a company.
Pursuing a career as an auditor will give you an integral opportunity to protect business and investors. Additionally, you will help organisations determine whether they meet their performance goals and adhere to standard practices. If you’re considering starting a career as an auditor, it’s essential to learn more about the steps to pursue an auditing career path.
This piece will walk you through the steps to start a career as an auditor and the different types of auditors.
Steps to Pursue a Career as an Auditor
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Complete your Secondary Education
The first step to pursuing a career as an auditor is to obtain an O’level certificate. Additionally, you should have a good foundation in finance-related subjects such as accounting, economics, commerce and marketing. This will give you a chance to gain admission into a university and give you the ability to cope with courses at the university. Therefore, you should have a minimum of credits in your O’level results.
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Gain a Bachelor’s Degree
To pursue a career as an auditor, you should obtain a bachelor’s degree in disciplines such as finance, accounting, economics or a related degree. This degree will give you the foundational knowledge you need to venture into the industry as a professional.
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Gain Work Experience
You can gain experience through internships or entry-level jobs in an auditing firm. Additionally, you can start your career as an accountant, or a financial analyst. This will enable you to gain experience by working directly with clients. Furthermore, this experience will also give you access to professionals who can guide you on your career journey.
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Pursue a Master’s Degree
You can consider a master’s degree. Firstly, most employers prefer to employ auditors with a master’s degree. Secondly, this can give you an added advantage in the employment market. Additionally, it proves that you have advanced knowledge in the relevant sections of the finance industry. This can also improve your earning potential. You can pursue a master’s degree in Accounting or a related field.
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Earn Relevant Certifications
A professional certification is important to your career as an auditor. You can earn certifications such as a Certified Public Accountant(CPA) or a Certified Internal Auditor(CIA).
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Develop Relevant Skills
As an aspiring auditor, you need to build skills that will enable you to have a thriving career. You should build analytical skills, quantitative skills, problem-solving and technical skills. To further enhance these vital skills, you can enroll in courses or attend workshops to gain the relevant skills.
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Networking
Networking is essential in the finance sector. You can join organisations and attend business events to connect with colleagues and industry experts. These can enable you to obtain new ideas, and insightful advice and even enable you to discover intriguing career opportunities. Additionally, this can give you a good opportunity to grow your career and give you room for professional development.
Types of Auditors
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Forensic Auditor
Forensic auditors are equipped to detect financial fraud or illicit behaviour. Therefore, they discover and prevent financial crimes by applying their accounting, legal, and investigative expertise.
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Internal Auditor
An internal auditor works for a firm and is in charge of examining and evaluating internal controls, processes, and procedures. Additionally, they are in charge of recommending changes to the company’s management after reporting their findings to them.
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Information Systems Auditor
Information systems auditors are in charge of evaluating the efficacy and security of an organization’s information systems.
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External Auditor
An external auditor is a neutral expert engaged by a company to audit its financial accounts. External auditors are often from public accounting firms and must adhere to generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) when doing their audits.
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Government Auditor
Government auditors work for agencies such as the federal, state, and municipal governments to guarantee that government programmes and organisations run smoothly and efficiently.
Universities in Africa that offer Courses in Business and Finance
- University of Ilorin, Nigeria
- Cairo University, Egypt
- University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Mansours University, Egypt
- University of Sfax, Tunisia
- Alexandria University, Egypt
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
- University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- Makerere University, Uganda
- Covenant University, Nigeria
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
- University of Sousse, Tunisia
- Rhodes University, South Africa
- University of Lagos, Nigeria
- Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti
- University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Tanta University, Egypt
- University of Pretoria, South Africa
- University of Nairobi, Kenya
- Moi University, Kenya
- University of Witwatersrand
- Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
- University of Botswana
- Ain Shams University, Egypt
- University of Cape Coast, Ghana
- Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
- University of Mauritius, Mauritius
- Tunis University, Tunisia
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
- Manouba University, Tunisia
In Conclusion, starting a career as an auditor will offer you a rewarding career and room for professional development. Additionally, it allows you to use your financial and analytical knowledge to guide strategic decisions. You need to acquire the required education and skills to excel in this career path. Overall, starting a career as an auditor can result in long-term success fulfilment.
Good luck!