As the internal audit landscape evolves, so should your CV. This challenging yet rewarding role, often perceived as the "heart health check" of a company's finance and operations, requires precision, objectivity, and stellar risk management skills. Let's ensure to mirror these qualities in your CV, giving your career journey the justice it deserves.
The path to becoming an internal auditor typically involves navigating a maze of finance and accounting roles, each adding a new layer of experience. In today's audit market, a shift towards integrating information technology and cyber risk has been widely noted. By 2024, artificial intelligence and data analytics are expected to further penetrate this realm. Your CV should therefore, not only showcase your past achievements, but also your adaptability and readiness to embrace these emerging trends.
A question often asked is about the disparity between resumes and CVs in our industry. To set the record straight; there isn't any. The two are different terms for the same thing. It’s akin to referring to chips as "fries" outside the US. You might come across advice that a CV is a sprawling 3-4 pager, but that's predominantly in academic or research roles, where extensive publications are highlighted. Here, in the audit arena, the same standards apply to CVs and resumes - keeping it crisp with a 1-2 page limit.
In this article, we'll guide you through creating a strong CV that stands up to scrutiny, just as a robust internal audit should. From templates that resonate with 2024 trends to key skills you must flaunt on your CV, we've got you covered. Immerse yourself in trusted advice, rooted in years of hiring experience, and capitalize on insights shared by industry insiders.
Internal auditors are the unsung heroes in a company, ensuring financial compliance and risk management. As the regulatory landscape becomes more complex, these professionals are in high demand across industries. In writing a CV for an internal auditor position, you'd want to reflect your understanding of changing compliance standards and your ability to adapt to those changes. It's not all about crunching numbers; companies value someone who can communicate complex information clearly, so don't underestimate the importance of highlighting your communication skills.
The auditing profession increasingly relies on technology for data analysis and risk assessment. Don't just say you're 'tech-savvy'. Instead, list the specific auditing or financial analysis software you're proficient in, like ACL or IDEA.
As a Senior Internal Auditor, your CV is a mirror showcasing your skills and experience in examining and improving financial systems and processes. This role has significantly evolved recently, shifting from purely finance-focused to requiring a mix of finance and IT skills, thanks to the increasing digitalisation of internal auditing. Moreover, as companies are more driven than ever towards transparency and accountability, your CV should reflect your abilities to ensure compliance with regulations, mitigate risks and drive efficiency. The trick is downplaying the jargon and intertwining your financial acumen and IT proficiency in a way that's easy to understand.
In a world where 'data is the new oil,' your CV should also display your capabilities in data analysis, risk assessment, and control management. Companies are increasingly leaning towards auditors who can leverage data to bring about financial improvements. So, when drafting your CV, remember to communicate your ability to operate in this dynamic, data-driven audit environment.
As the role of an internal auditor now requires a balance of financial acumen and IT skills, ensure you illustrate this blend in your CV. List the financial systems you've audited and showcase your proficiency in IT tools used for auditing.
Given the shift towards data-driven auditing, emphasize your expertise in data analysis and how you've used data to drive your auditing projects. Include specifics about the types of data you've worked with, and any trends or insights you've uncovered.
Building a CV for an Internal Audit role is about combining the right words with real-world achievements. Internal audit is about investigating and ensuring everything is as it should be - your CV should show how you excel in these tasks. Input key skills directly the job description in either your CV’s Skills section or via bullet points in your past jobs. For instance, "Implemented Oracle software as part of an efficient audit process."
It’s simple - the words you use matter. After all, CVs aren't just read by people. Computers or Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) often read them first. They scan for those necessary keywords from the job description. If those aren't there, your CV might not make it past the initial filter.
Show your skills, not just on paper, but through your past work. If you've got experience with critical software like Excel or ACL, talk about how you used them. E.g. "Used ACL for data analysis in simplifying audit procedures, reducing discrepancies by 15%." It's about being concise and clear, allowing your skills to do the talking.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Internal Audit job descriptions and CVs. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Adding punch to a CV comes easy when you use action verbs. These powerful words can help showcase your skills in internal auditing. This role needs a lot of detail-checking, fact-finding and making sure all is accurate. You get the idea.
For example, instead of saying 'was responsible for checking financial records,' use 'Scrutinized financial records for accuracy.' Get specific, get active. Don't use 'Assisted in the creation of risk management strategies.' Instead, try 'Collaborated to create risk management strategies.'
Remember, in the world of internal auditing, the devil's in the details. Make those details count with action verbs. They help you stand out by showing what you did in your past jobs, not just what you were tasked with. It's a subtle shift, but trust us, it makes a big difference.
For a full list of effective CV action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
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.
