How to Write an Effective Auditor Job Description

How to Write an Effective Auditor Job DescriptionHow to Write an Effective Auditor Job DescriptionTo hire the right internal auditor for your company, your hiring process must be precise. And precision starts with the essential components of the auditor job description.An internal auditor plays a crucial role in your company by providing an independent, objective assessment of the firms operations. The auditor also helps accomplish your organizations objectives through a systematic, disciplined approach to risk management, control and governance processes. To fill this vital position, you need a highly skilled, objective financial expert with integrity.As the basis of your job posting, it must accurately communicate the positions specific responsibilities and the attributes required. The more precise you make this job description, the better your chances are of hiring the right internal auditor for your company.If you omit key details of the internal auditor job description, it will be just vague enough to throw open the floodgates to dozens (if not hundreds) of candidates who arent a good match for your position. Youll also decrease your chances of finding the right person.See more accounting and finance job descriptions that Robert Half commonly places.Of course, the key details of your job description will vary according to the level of auditor youre hiring. But take a look at the following sections to see examples of information that auditor job descriptions frequently includeEntry- and staff-level internal auditorsAuditor positions at the entry and staff levels typically do not require education beyond a bachelors degree in accounting or finance. However, the auditor must be detail-oriented and proficient in Microsoft Office applications. Auditors with up to three years of experience also need a good understanding ofAccounting, finance and internal controls and standardsGenerally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requireme ntsThe Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)Risk-assessment practicesManagers and senior audit staffansicht positions build on the requirements of staff-level auditors. Therefore, managers and senior staff must have five to eight years of experience in public or private industry accounting, plusProfessional accounting certifications, such as a CPA, or certified internal auditor (CIA)Masters in business administration (MBA) degree (for internal audit managers)Critical thinking, communication and analytic skillsProject management skillsAbility to interact with upper managementAbility to work independentlySupervisory experienceChief audit executive, internal audit director, VP of internal auditIn addition to the requirements listed for lower-level positions, executive auditor requirements includeSignificant experience with financial and accounting applications, and financial and operational controlsObjectivitySoft skills, including the ability to expla in complex topics to audiences with no auditing experienceTeam leadership expertiseAbility to guide managements decisions based on financial reportingAbility to support various departments within the company, such as the legal and anti-fraud departmentsHow to wrap it upTransparency is essential for an effective auditor job description - as well as a successful new hire. Keep in mind that a new employees first performance evaluation is often based on how well he or she fulfilled the duties stated in the job description. Make sure your job description doesnt include any surprises or hidden responsibilities that can trip up audit professionals once theyre hired. And if any job responsibilities or expectations change along the way, make sure theyre communicated as precisely as the information in your original job description.How do your auditing job descriptions stack up? Could you use help with hiring temporary accounting professionals?VIEW OUR HIRING PAGE