Internal audit is a rewarding profession whose responsibility is to ensure a company’s integrity in terms of legal compliance, security, and finances. The role of an internal audit is to inspect the company’s internal controls. These are the methods used by an organization to prevent legal issues, fraud, and maintain their finances on track.
Internal controls are also rules and procedures used by a company to promote accountability. Each organization member has specific parameters to follow to ensure integrity in their operations.
Due to the high number of cyber attacks, companies have to protect their data from malicious entries. That’s why an internal auditor might also work in the IT department to ensure the company’s networks, hardware, and software are protected from malware and cyber crimes.
There are two types of mechanisms internal auditors use: detective and preventive. They make sure everything is up and running with the internal controls, but if they suspect issues in these processes, they will address them.
Some inspections are done frequently, especially in the manufacturing team, and others are scheduled, to give managers time to collect records and documentation. If internal auditors suspect fraud or improper actions, they might visit the team randomly.
Internal auditors must also create reports and data analyses to share with stakeholders. They will collect data, forecast events, and conduct research.
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An internal auditor inspects and evaluates a company’s internal controls to ensure the integrity of its data, finances, and legal compliance. They research workflows, physical inventory, and regulatory policies. Once they have concluded their investigation and gathered all the information they required, the internal auditor will create a report for the stakeholders. Then, they will provide recommendations to improve operations if needed.
There are many auditing techniques including vouching, physical examination, and scanning documents. When writing your resume, try to be precise with your responsibilities and mention those assessment techniques you are familiar with.
As an internal auditor, you must have an excellent eye to detect issues in internal controls. That’s why recruiters look for candidates with excellent attention to detail. You should emphasize this in your resume to differentiate yourself from competitors.
The role of a senior internal auditor is to create auditing strategies, provide directions to the auditing team, monitor the company’s finances, and promote plans to optimize internal operations. They must have excellent communication and leadership skills.
If you want to get a job as a senior internal auditor, you should accentuate your work experience. Recruiters seek experienced professionals with excellent technical skills. That’s why it’s essential to prioritize achievements you’ve had as an auditor, such as improving financial operations or identifying issues in internal control mechanisms.
You may be also experienced in other areas, but the best thing you can do is to seem specialized. That’s why you should focus on auditing keywords and related terms on your senior internal auditor resume.
As a hiring manager who has recruited for internal audit roles at companies like KPMG, Deloitte, and EY, I've seen countless resumes come across my desk. The best ones always stand out by showcasing the candidate's specific skills, experience, and impact in the field of internal auditing. Here are some tips to help your internal audit resume rise to the top of the pile:
Many internal audit roles require specific certifications or technical skills. Be sure to highlight any relevant certifications you have, such as:
Additionally, showcase your proficiency in relevant technical skills, such as:
By highlighting your certifications and technical skills, you demonstrate to potential employers that you have the necessary qualifications and expertise to excel in an internal audit role.
A well-crafted summary for your internal audit resume can be a powerful tool to capture the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. While a summary is optional, it can provide valuable context about your career trajectory, highlight your most relevant skills and experiences, and demonstrate your fit for the role you're targeting.
However, it's crucial to avoid using an objective statement, as these are outdated and focus on what you want rather than what you can offer the employer. Instead, use your summary to showcase your unique value proposition and the key strengths that make you an ideal candidate for an internal audit position.
The work experience section is the heart of your internal audit resume. It's where you'll highlight your most relevant experience and accomplishments to show employers you have the skills and expertise they need. In this section, we'll break down the key steps to crafting a compelling work experience section that will grab the attention of hiring managers and help you land your next internal audit role.
The education section of your internal audit resume should be concise and relevant to the position you're applying for. Here are some key tips to keep in mind when writing this section:
When developing your resume, you should know the way you write it is highly important. Using the right words might be the difference between being considered by a recruiter or completely ignored. Action verbs are grammatical assets that add value to your message.
However, most people tend to fall for the overused ones. The best action verbs are accurate and precise. Instead of saying you were “in charge of” use more precise work like “executed”, “directed”, etc. Your duties bullet point should start with action verbs that are direct and precise. Vague or general action verbs are usually the weakest ones.
When you use the appropriate terms, you’ll look more confident, proactive, and authoritative. If you’re wondering what types of action verbs you can use for your internal audit resume, take a look at the following ones. We carefully chose the most accurate action verbs for internal audit careers.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
Internal auditors must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. They are responsible for seeking the company’s wellbeing in terms of finances, accounting, operations efficiency, security, and legal compliance.
When adding your skills to your internal audit resume, you should think about those that are relevant in the industry and focus on technical skills. If you need more inspiration, you can review the following technical skills we have compiled for internal audit roles.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Internal Audit job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
