If you’re interested in auditing and considering becoming an auditor, you might be wondering what you can do to land a great auditing job. Should you intern at a big accounting firm? Take classes on financial regulation? Or is it more about knowing what to expect and being able to plan your career path accordingly? To find out the answer, we recently spoke with the team at the CAQ (Center for Audit Quality) to find out what steps you can take to find a job that fits your skills and lifestyle.
Here are the top four tips for landing an auditing job.
1. Take relevant classes during your time in college
Since auditing requires an understanding of financial regulations and accounting principles, developing this knowledge as an undergraduate will get you one step closer to finding the right job. The best way to do this is by taking business and accounting classes as part of your major and using these classes to establish a solid knowledge base. At the same time, you can develop your skills by taking specialized electives such as data analytics, business ethics and accounting information systems.
Pro Tip: If you want to really stand out from the crowd, supplementing your knowledge by learning about auditing through sources such as the CAQ’s Discover Audit initiative is a great way to do so.
2. Intern with an accounting firm while in college
If you’re not sure about what auditing career path to choose (or even if you are but want to build your skills and experience), a great way to gain exposure to the profession is by doing an internship with an accounting firm during your sophomore of junior year of college. This will give you hands-on experience while teaching you the type of skills you’ll need to succeed in the profession. As an added bonus, you’ll expand your professional network and will likely open yourself up to new job opportunities after the internship is over. Plus, many public accounting firms hire directly from their intern pools.
3. Start networking
It’s never to early to start networking and the best place to do so is right on your campus. This is because audit professionals from large accounting firms often spend time on college campuses networking with current students. In order to make the most of these opportunities, take advantage of the chance to meet these professionals and hear from them about their experiences. As an added bonus, these might be the same professionals you’ll get to work with someday if you decide that a career in auditing is for you.
4. Study for the CPA exam
Although a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) license is not required in order to start your career as an auditor, many firms — especially large public accounting firms — require their employees to obtain their CPA license early in their career. According to the CAQ, even if your particular firm doesn’t require a CPA license, passing the exam is a way to expand your career options and to get recognized in the field. It will also increase your earning potential throughout your career.
By following these tips and knowing how to position yourself as a competitive candidate, you’ll be setting yourself up for success and getting one step closer to landing a great auditing job.
Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 6 Things to Do in Your First Week at a New Job and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?
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