Auditor

Typical Salary

£25,000 To £80,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

evenings away from home

How To Become a Auditor

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
applying directly
training with a professional body

College / University

You could do an accountancy degree at university, then complete further training to become an auditor.

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths

3 A levels or equivalent

Apprenticeship

You may be able to complete an apprenticeship to qualify as an internal auditor, while working with a company. Training includes:

a higher apprenticeship as an internal audit practitioner
a level 7 apprenticeship as an internal audit professional

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

You can join a company as a trainee auditor, or move into auditing by being seconded to an internal auditing team from another department.

You'll usually need at least A level qualifications or equivalent, and you'll be expected to take further training as your career develops.

Other Routes

You can qualify by doing:

a graduate training scheme after completing an accountancy degree at university
the National Audit Office 3-year training scheme for graduates in any subject
the National Audit Office 5-year training scheme for school leavers with 3 A levels or equivalent qualifications

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of economics and accounting
maths knowledge
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
analytical thinking skills
knowledge of English language
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
business management skills
customer service skills
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Day To Day Tasks

In your day-to-day duties you might:

examine company accounts
identify any problems or risks to the business
assess the company's financial reporting systems
interview staff to gather evidence
observe business processes
analyse financial data
make recommendations for improvements

Working Environment

You could work in an office or at a client's business.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Professional and industry bodies

To be an external auditor, you'll need to be a qualified chartered accountant and a member of one of the following professional bodies:

You'll need to be a member of the The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy to carry out audits in the public sector.

If you're qualified as an accountant with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), you can carry out internal audits.

Further information

You can find out more about working in auditing from the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.