Audit jobs

It is an auditor’s role to assess an organisation’s accounts, ensuring that all money going in and out is properly recorded and the business is using its resources efficiently. They can also act in an advisory manner, making recommendations to businesses on how to cut costs and avoid financial risks. Internal and external auditors differ slightly; internal auditors might focus more on policy and procedure, whereas an external auditor is brought in to verify an organisation’s accounts.
 

All public companies are required by law to undergo an annual audit, so audit jobs are advertised regularly across the country. Qualified and experienced auditors, who can be in-house as part of an accounting team or work for independent certified auditing firms, are always in demand.
 

Michael Page Finance has been helping shape successful careers and supporting companies build better businesses for over 40 years – including recruiting for audit jobs. We specialise in the permanent, temporary and interim recruitment of professionals into audit and advisory jobs. Our workforce of over 220 specialist recruitment consultants operates from 28 office locations in the UK giving us complete coverage.

Audit and advisory jobs we recruit

• Internal auditor
• Audit specialist
• Audit supervisor
• Finance advisor
• Corporate finance manager
• Head of internal audit and risk
• Audit and accounts senior

Key auditor tasks

Much of the work involved with auditor jobs is admin heavy. Auditors will collate and analyse data, ensuring that an organisation’s accounts are all in order, often using spreadsheets to do so. An auditor is also expected to prepare reports and financial statements, as well as present their findings if necessary.
 

Many audit and advisory roles involve analysing an organisation’s financial risks, and giving recommendations on more efficient or lower cost processes. They are also responsible for ensuring policies and regulations are correctly followed.
 

Key skills for audit jobs

Auditors must have excellent communication and presentation skills as they are often expected to outline their findings to senior level management once an audit is complete. This also means auditors should be detail-oriented and work well under pressure and to tight deadlines. They must stay up to date with changes to legislation so should be prepared to spend time studying the law.
 

Auditors might function alone, or as part of a team, but they will usually be expected to work alongside various employees to carry out an audit, so they should have strong interpersonal skills and feel confident engaging with new people often.

Qualifications and experience needed for audit jobs

Qualifications required for auditing differ for internal and external auditor jobs. External auditors must be qualified as chartered accounts from one of the following bodies or similar:
 

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
   

In addition, external auditors must have two years of experience in accountancy and a recognised practicing certificate. An alternative option for recent graduates is to join a big accountancy firm, or the government’s National Audit Office, as a graduate trainee.
 

Internal auditors are not always required to qualify as accountants but degrees in related fields such as accountancy and economics are desirable.