Audit manager salaries: Page Not Found | Glassdoor

Audit Manager Salary (October 2022) – Zippia

Updated August 22, 2022

$121,419yearly

To create our salary estimates, Zippia starts with data published in publicly available sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC) Show More

$58.37 hourly

Entry level Salary

$82,000

yearly

$82,000

10 %

$121,419

Median

$178,000

90 %

How much does an Audit Manager make?

Audit managers make $121,419 per year on average, or $58.37 per hour, in the United States. Audit managers on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $82,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $178,000.

Location impacts how much an audit manager can expect to make. Audit managers make the most in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Delaware.

Highest Paying State

Maine

Highest Paying City

Portland, ME

Highest Paying Company

Meta

What Am I Worth?

Highest Paying State

Maine

Highest Paying City

Portland, ME

Highest Paying Company

Meta

What Am I Worth?

Highest Paying States For Audit Managers

The darker areas on the map show where audit managers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

• State View
• County View

Average Salary:

Audit Manager average salary by State

Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Count
1	Delaware	$143,318	$68.90	99
2	Rhode Island	$144,302	$69.38	85
3	Connecticut	$138,157	$66.42	370
4	Maine	$154,887	$74.46	69
5	New York	$140,871	$67.73	1,482
6	Vermont	$146,636	$70.50	42
7	Kentucky	$139,745	$67.19	208
8	New Hampshire	$146,020	$70.20	90
9	Massachusetts	$136,901	$65.82	845
10	Utah	$132,347	$63. 63	248
11	Washington	$133,369	$64.12	779
12	Mississippi	$138,125	$66.41	70
13	West Virginia	$134,218	$64.53	60
14	New Jersey	$132,569	$63.74	676
15	Oregon	$132,219	$63.57	303
16	District of Columbia	$131,623	$63.28	275
17	Kansas	$130,571	$62.77	156
18	Alabama	$132,349	$63.63	206
19	Nebraska	$129,226	$62.13	117
20	Maryland	$127,929	$61.50	573
21	Virginia	$127,033	$61.07	813
22	Wisconsin	$126,164	$60.66	299
23	South Dakota	$129,440	$62. 23	30
24	Illinois	$120,599	$57.98	1,302
25	New Mexico	$129,071	$62.05	75
26	North Carolina	$119,897	$57.64	796
27	Iowa	$119,298	$57.35	260
28	Missouri	$119,754	$57.57	470
29	Arkansas	$119,336	$57.37	162
30	Pennsylvania	$119,387	$57.40	809
31	Nevada	$118,247	$56.85	175
32	California	$121,212	$58.27	3,512
33	Minnesota	$119,756	$57.58	502
34	Georgia	$118,023	$56.74	844
35	Indiana	$117,728	$56.60	406
36	Tennessee	$117,444	$56. 46	323
37	Arizona	$112,922	$54.29	571
38	Louisiana	$119,261	$57.34	171
39	Michigan	$116,642	$56.08	513
40	North Dakota	$119,048	$57.23	28
41	Texas	$115,405	$55.48	1,487
42	Ohio	$111,975	$53.83	660
43	Colorado	$111,711	$53.71	533
44	Hawaii	$100,946	$48.53	83
45	Alaska	$116,210	$55.87	43
46	Florida	$110,927	$53.33	1,187
47	South Carolina	$114,026	$54.82	210
48	Idaho	$106,787	$51.34	90
49	Oklahoma	$111,487	$53. 60	126
50	Montana	$100,216	$48.18	71
51	Wyoming	$104,224	$50.11	24

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Top Audit Manager Jobs Near You

Highest Paying Cities For Audit Managers

Rank	City	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
1	Portland, ME	$157,975	$75.95
2	Albany, NY	$146,214	$70.30
3	Stamford, CT	$138,403	$66.54
4	Boston, MA	$138,367	$66.52
5	Seattle, WA	$134,036	$64.44
6	Washington, DC	$132,626	$63.76
7	Salt Lake City, UT	$132,484	$63.69
8	Portland, OR	$132,075	$63.50
9	Kansas City, KS	$131,705	$63.32
10	Baltimore, MD	$128,910	$61.98
11	McLean, VA	$127,740	$61.41
12	Milwaukee, WI	$126,807	$60.96
13	Richmond, CA	$125,177	$60.18
14	Saint Louis, MO	$121,238	$58. 29
15	Chicago, IL	$121,024	$58.18

Audit Manager Salary Details

Average Audit Manager Salary Graph, Trends, and Summary

What is an Audit Manager’s Salary?

Average Salary By Related Titles

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
Manager Finance Planning And Analysis	$106,888	$8,907	$51. 39	111,706
Finance And Insurance Manager	$92,250	$7,687	$44.35	136,188
Credit And Collection Manager	$71,775	$5,981	$34.51	38,683
Administrative & Finance Manager	$76,989	$6,416	$37.01	143,109
Management Accounts Manager	$91,681	$7,640	$44.08	113,871
Investments Manager	$116,101	$9,675	$55.82	42,946

Here are the five companies hiring the most now:

1. Citi Jobs (48)
2. Microsoft Jobs (28)
3. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Jobs (22)
4. AIG Jobs (29)
5. Robert Half Jobs (127)

Which Companies Pay Audit Managers The Most?

According to our most recent salary estimates, Meta and Apple are the highest paying companies for audit managers.

How Much Do Audit Managers Make In Different Industries?

Here are some examples of how much an audit manager salaries can based on different industries:

1. The manufacturing industry pays audit managers an average salary of $122,875

2. The retail industry pay $122,405

3. The lowest paying industry for audit managers is the professional industry. Audit managers in this industry earn an average salary of $97,393

Highest Paying Industries For Audit Managers

High Paying Audit Manager Jobs

Audit Manager Salary Trends

The salary for an audit manager can vary depending on the years of experience that a person has, from entry level to senior level. Data on how experience level affects total compensation is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as part of their National Compensation Survey, which is based on factors such as knowledge, complexity, contacts, and environment.

Entry LevelAvg.salary$83k

Senior LevelAvg.salary$199k

Audit Manager Salary By Experience Level

Average Audit Manager Salary Over Time

Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Recently Added Audit Manager Salaries

Audit Manager Salaries FAQs

What state pays Audit Managers the most?

Maine pays Audit Managers the most in the United States, with an average salary of $154,887 per year, or $74.46 per hour.

How do I know if I’m being paid fairly as an Audit Manager?

You know if you are being paid fairly as an Audit Manager if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Vermont you should be paid close to $146,636 per year.

What type of Audit Manager gets paid the most?

Banking Center Manager gets paid the most. Banking Center Manager made a median salary of $128,585. The best-paid 10 percent make $150,000, while the lowest-paid 10 percent make $109,000.

Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.

Search For Audit Manager Jobs

Updated August 22, 2022

Audit Manager Salary: What You’ll Make and Why

According to various salary aggregate websites, an audit manager’s salary in the US ranges between $91,404 and $134,140, with an average salary of $113,622. As of July 2022, the base salaries for audit managers are listed as follows:

Payscale	ZipRecruiter	Indeed	Salary. com	Glassdoor
$91,404	$103,030	$106,756	$132,780	$134,140

Keep in mind: Salary aggregate websites typically rely on data submitted anonymously by individuals using their site. Some websites may have received larger amounts of data of either higher or lower than average salaries, which may affect the site’s calculated average.

Read more: What Is an Audit Manager? How to Become One

What influences a salary?

The salary of an Audit Manager is determined by a number of factors, including education, experience, and job location. In this article, we will take a closer look at how these factors impact salary.

Years of experience

Salary increases are generally tied to your experience level. In general, the more years you spend working as an audit manager, the more you can expect to earn. Here’s how experience can impact your audit manager salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Compensation Survey.

Location

Where you live can also impact how much you can make as an audit manager. Typically, working in a large metropolitan area correlates to a higher salary, as well as a higher cost of living.

Here is a list of some major cities with their corresponding average audit manager salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How does this compare to similar jobs?

Here’s how an audit manager’s salary stacks up against similar jobs.

How to increase your audit manager salary

Now that you have a better idea of what you could expect to earn as an audit manager, let’s look at ways to boost your salary.

1. Strengthen your skills

Pursuing and improving in-demand skills could make you more competitive for promotions and higher-paying positions. These skills include:

• Financial Analysis: Understand how to read and analyze financial statements
• GAAP: Be familiar with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and how to apply them
• Audit Planning: Develop plans for conducting audits, including identifying risks and developing testing procedures
• Audit Execution: Conduct audits in accordance with the plan, including interviewing employees and reviewing documentation
• Report Writing: Prepare audit reports that communicate findings and recommendations to clients

2. Get a good performance review

A great way to increase your salary is to get a good performance review. If your boss is happy with your work, he or she may be more likely to give you a raise. Be sure to document your successes, and be prepared to discuss them in your review.

3. Go back to school

While it may not be feasible to go back to school full-time, taking some classes or getting a certification in auditing can help you command a higher salary. Many employers are willing to pay more for employees who have demonstrated a commitment to their profession, and taking some extra classes is a great way to show that you’re serious about your career.

Article Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “National Compensation Survey, https://www.bls.gov/ncs/.” Accessed July 2, 2022.

2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm.” Accessed July 2, 2022.

3. Payscale. “Auditing Manager Salary, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Auditing_Manager/Salary.” Accessed July 2, 2022.

4. Ziprecruiter. “Audit Manager Annual Salary, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Audit-Manager-Salary. ” Accessed July 2, 2022.

5. Indeed. “Indeed Salary Finder, https://www.indeed.com/career/salaries.” Accessed July 2, 2022.

6. Salary.com. “Audit Manager Salary, https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/audit-manager-salary.” Accessed July 2, 2022.

7. Glassdoor. “Audit Manager Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/audit-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm.” Accessed July 2, 2022.

Internal Audit Manager Salary Seattle, Washington, United States

Average Base Salary

Average Hourly Rate

$76.06 (USD)/hr

Average Bonus

$14,286 (USD)/yr

Compensation Data Based on Experience

The average internal audit manager gross salary in Seattle, Washington is $158,201 or an equivalent hourly rate of $76. This is 12% higher (+$17,175) than the average internal audit manager salary in the United States. In addition, they earn an average bonus of $14,286. Salary estimates based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in Seattle, Washington. An entry level internal audit manager (1-3 years of experience) earns an average salary of $109,762. On the other end, a senior level internal audit manager (8+ years of experience) earns an average salary of $196,831.

Quickly search for salaries in other careers and locations in our salary database.

Job Title

City, State, Country or US Zip Code

This page is a promotion for SalaryExpert’s Assessor Series and is not intended for professional use.

Professionals should subscribe to SalaryExpert’s Assessor Platform.

ERI’s compensation data are based on salary surveys conducted and researched by ERI. Cost of labor data in the Assessor Series are based on actual housing sales data from commercially available sources, plus rental rates, gasoline prices, consumables, medical care premium costs, property taxes, effective income tax rates, etc.

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Estimated Salary in 2027:

$176,386 (USD)

5 Year Change:

11 %

Based on our compensation data, the estimated salary potential for Internal Audit Manager will increase 11 % over 5 years.

Coordinates activities

88%

Reviews records

74%

Establishes systems specifications

44%

Financial record analysis

3%

Information analysis

3%

This chart displays the highest level of education for:
Internal Audit Manager, the majority at 55% with bachelors.

Typical Field of Study: Banking and Financial Support Services

See how education can impact your salary

• Chicago

  
  
  5.7 %

• Dallas

  
  
  4.8 %

• Miami

  
  
  9. 4 %

• Ontario

  
  
  37.3 %

• New Hampshire

  
  
  9.4 %

• North Carolina

  
  
  15 %

• Bulgaria

  
  
  469 %

• Canada

  
  
  38. 1 %

• China

  
  
  151.4 %

• Hong Kong SAR

  
  
  59.2 %

• Indonesia

  
  
  445. 1 %

• United States

  
  
  12.2 %

Seattle, Washington

The cost of living in Seattle, Washington is 70% more than the average cost of living in the United States. Cost of living is calculated based on accumulating the cost of food, transportation, health services, rent, utilities, taxes, and miscellaneous.

View Cost of Living Page

Seattle ( (listen) see-AT-əl) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The Seattle metropolitan area’s population is 4.02 million, making it the 15th-largest in the United States. Its growth rate of 21.1% between 2010 and 2020 makes it one of the nation’s fastest-growing large cities.Seattle is situated…

Sourced from Wikipedia

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Manages and coordinates activities of auditors conducting independent protective and constructive audits for management to review effectiveness of controls, financial records, and operations. Contributes to the design and implementation of company audit procedures. Establishes systems and standards for conducting audits. Reviews records of functions audited to ensure proper recording of transactions and compliance with applicable laws.
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• 
  Manager Auditing Department
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  Audit Manager

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Quickly search for salaries in other careers and locations in our salary database.

Job Title

City, State, Country or US Zip Code

This page is a promotion for SalaryExpert’s Assessor Series and is not intended for professional use.

Professionals should subscribe to SalaryExpert’s Assessor Platform.

ERI’s compensation data are based on salary surveys conducted and researched by ERI. Cost of labor data in the Assessor Series are based on actual housing sales data from commercially available sources, plus rental rates, gasoline prices, consumables, medical care premium costs, property taxes, effective income tax rates, etc.

Coordinates activities

88%

Reviews records

74%

Establishes systems specifications

44%

Financial record analysis

3%

Information analysis

3%

See how skills can impact your salary

• Chicago

  
  
  5. 7 %

• Dallas

  
  
  4.8 %

• Miami

  
  
  9.4 %

• Ontario

  
  
  37. 3 %

• New Hampshire

  
  
  9.4 %

• North Carolina

  
  
  15 %

• Bulgaria

  
  
  469 %

• Canada

  
  
  38. 1 %

• China

  
  
  151.4 %

• Hong Kong SAR

  
  
  59.2 %

• Indonesia

  
  
  445. 1 %

• United States

  
  
  12.2 %

Learn About Our Products

SalaryExpert, powered by ERI, provides verified salary and cost of living data to the public with a comprehensive platform for evaluating compensation, career, relocation, and education decisions.

Access Our Assessor Productsarrow_right

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• 
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• 
  Manager Internal Audit
• 
  Audit Manager

Audit Manager | EN

How to Become an Audit Manager (Plus Skills and Salary) • BUOM

Posted by the Indeed Editorial Team

January 3, 2022

Adding an Audit Manager to your accounting and internal audit team can help a company improve its financial reporting and compliance standards. The audit manager can help plan and review tax filings, secure necessary funds, and implement proper accounting practices. Financial professionals who wish to advance their careers to a management position in accounting and auditing can learn more about how to get this job. In this article, we will discuss what an audit manager does, how to become one, what skills are required to succeed in the profession, and the average salary for this role.

What does an audit manager do?

An audit manager is a professional who specializes in managing the business processes, operations, and controls of an organization. This often includes overseeing and auditing a company’s financial statements to determine if it is in compliance with laws and regulations. They also track data and perform analysis to ensure that employees follow compliance protocols without potential risks. The audit manager also oversees a group of junior accountants or auditors, makes recommendations to them, and reviews their work.

Some other responsibilities of the audit manager include:

• Assign and set the staffing schedules

• Document the results of the estimate

• Condition

• Give a positive review

• 9000 9000

How to Become an Audit Manager

Here are seven steps you can take to become an Audit Manager:

1. Get an education

Companies may need audit managers with at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field such as finance or business administration. These degree paths typically take four years, depending on how many credit hours you take per semester. Earning an advanced degree such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accounting in Public Accounting, or Master of Accounting (MAcc) can help you in your job search as an audit manager. A master’s degree usually takes one to two years to complete.

2. Gain experience

When hiring someone for the position of audit manager, a company may be looking for candidates with extensive experience in accounting, auditing, or other positions where you have learned how to evaluate and audit the organization’s financial statements. This experience often includes determining the validity and reliability of an organization’s internal processes and the ability to compare these against risks, including any breaches of financial laws and regulations. Having managerial or leadership experience, even in an unrelated field, can also help you qualify for this position.

3. Get certified

A Certified Quality Auditor Certification (CQA) is often required for anyone who wants to become an audit manager. A CQA is a financial professional who specializes in implementing principles and standards relating to the audit of an organization’s financial statements. Hiring managers may also opt for an advanced certification such as Certified Public Accountant and Certified Information Systems Auditor or Certified Internal Auditor. Getting one of these along with CQA can make you a more attractive candidate.

4. Improve your skills

Analytical thinking and critical thinking skills can help audit managers succeed in their careers. This includes the skills you need to interpret information you find in an audit and translate data to help your organization’s leaders understand your findings. It’s important to show your potential employers that you’re meticulous, honest, and on time. Some other skills that should be developed include problem solving and decision making.

5. Create a resume

As you are looking for an audit manager job, it is important to have a resume that highlights your relevant skills, experience and education. Your resume can be the hiring manager’s first impression of you, so providing an informative document can improve your chances of getting a job. Consider tailoring your resume for the job you are applying for, and you can do this by highlighting your previous responsibilities or job responsibilities that can help you as an audit manager. If your resume includes an objective or professional resume, try to highlight how your skills and experience can help you succeed in this role.

6. Apply for a job

If you want to advance your career in finance to a management position, it is important to apply for a variety of jobs in many industries. Most companies in any industry require a professional to audit their finances, which can allow you to expand your career opportunities. You can search for jobs on job boards, explore job fairs, or chat with colleagues. It is important to consider all of your options when looking for a job as an audit manager.

7. Do well in your interview

Consider reviewing the exact job description and company you are applying for before the interview. Showing that you are knowledgeable about the company will make you appear more professional, and being able to link your experience to the job can increase your chances of getting hired. You can also rehearse your answers to general interview questions, which will allow you to give clearer and more complete answers during the interview and make sure you remember to include all the important details about yourself.

Audit Manager Skills

Here are some skills you can learn to improve your business processes if you want to advance your career as an audit manager:

Communication

Audit managers often communicate technical and confidential information to clients or organizational leaders, so strong communication skills can help you succeed in this role. Being able to develop positive relationships with your team and the department heads you report to can help you get better information from them or communicate your findings to them more effectively. It can also help build trust, which can help them collaborate better with you and help you complete tasks more efficiently.

Time management

It is important for an audit manager to incorporate time management into their work processes. This includes prioritizing tasks, making good use of technology, and having effective meetings. There are other ways to implement time management: delegating tasks and encouraging your team to complete projects while meeting financial deadlines, such as tax due dates and fiscal year reporting.

Organization

It is important for an audit manager to carefully organize their processes when working with a client or within an organization. This can be as simple as organizing documents or storing the financial data you collect during an audit in folders. You may encounter different audits that comply with different laws and regulations, so it’s a good idea to keep each set of financial statements in their proper locations. The organization also helps you better manage your team and track the progress of their projects.

Logic and critical thinking

Audit managers often work with numbers and data, so it is important to be able to calculate and interpret them. Since the job often requires learning from your research and developing the right steps to solve any problems or improve the efficiency of financial processes, the ability to solve problems and come up with creative solutions can also help you succeed in this role. These skills can also help you overcome any challenges you may have in managing your team members, which can help you maintain a supportive work environment for them and keep morale high.

Related: [Auditing Skills: Definition and Examples](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/auditing-skills)

Audit Manager Salary and Career Opportunities

According to Indeed, the average national audit manager salary is $97,101 per year. Your salary may depend on where you live, the size of your company, or the experience, education, and certifications you have received. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that all positions of accountants and auditors, including audit managers, will have a 7 percent increase in jobs through 2030, just below the average for all professions. The agency attributes this demand to the ongoing need for professionals to review and prepare financial statements as the economy grows and the number of companies that go public increases.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Internal Auditor: Job Description and Average Salary

Internal audit is not a highly developed position, but it is an essential part of a company’s infrastructure to ensure smooth operation and compliance with laws and regulations.

As of 2017, the job market is vibrant and there is a healthy demand for the profession in most areas of the country over the next few years, making internal audit an attractive career choice for people with a natural aptitude for mathematics.

Job Description

The Internal Auditor role is the role of an impartial watchdog, constantly making sure that company laws and regulations are being followed and that departments and employees are following due process. An Internal Auditor reviews tax records, expense reports, inventory, and more. other, which must be impeccable in the event of an external audit by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or other government regulatory body.

Another aspect of the work is the protection of assets through risk management. These risks can range from fraud and legal impact to domestic policy failures and mismanagement. Internal auditors create risk assessments for each department using a master plan with a set schedule down to the smallest detail to ensure nothing falls by the wayside. They build checklists and control audit schedules. In addition, the internal auditor must continually review internal accounting procedures and operating systems.

The Internal Auditor is not personally involved in any department and is therefore expected to address each area in an impartial and objective manner. In publicly traded companies, the CEO is legally required to have an internal auditor reporting directly to him.

Salary

The average salary in 2017 is $56,902 according to PayScale. Internal auditors report receiving bonuses that can exceed $7,000 and profit-sharing programs paying out about $6,000 annually.

Salaries for internal auditors are highly dependent on location and experience. Coastal areas such as New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, USA, and Houston have significantly higher average salaries across the board, while inland locations are on the decline overall. The one exception to this rule is Jacksonville, Florida, where salaries are reported to be 11% below the national average. The starting salary for entry level auditors typically ranges between $41,000 and $45,000, rising quite quickly with experience.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance is the most common job requirement. In rare cases, people with lesser education have earned their position by starting in a junior accounting position and progressing to the role through experience. These people cannot earn a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or similar accreditation, usually making the internal auditor role as high as they fall into the corporate hierarchy. Master’s and doctoral degrees are most commonly found among those seeking to move into management. This type of degree is dominated by areas related to business and mathematics.

Certifications

Many internal auditors find that achieving CPA status greatly helps their careers and salary prospects. It is also a requirement to file reports with the SEC. CPA requirements vary by state, but the general minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree, at least one year of work, working under a CPA, and passing the grueling CPA exam.

The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation is awarded by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) after passing a four-part test. The CIA also requires a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience as an internal auditor.

The IIA also offers the following specialized accreditations: Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA), Certified Government Audit Specialist (CGAP), and Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA). These industry certifications can greatly improve job opportunities in these areas.

Those who wish to specialize in audit software can obtain Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) accreditation offered by the non-profit organization ISACA.

The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certificate is awarded by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and focuses on financial statement analysis, valuation and capital structure.

Skills

The most important quality of an internal auditor is great attention to detail. A significant part of the job is meticulously keeping track of detailed checklists and spending hours upon hours going through vast amounts of numbers to catch anything that stands out. Having a natural head for math is an obvious advantage in this task.

Integrity is another job responsibility as the company and its owners rely on the auditor to catch anything suspicious or bad. The auditor’s primary allegiance is facts and figures, not the manager.

Judgment and common sense are essential as the auditor’s task is to strike a healthy balance between risk and flexibility. The ability to understand underlying business processes makes policy management a fluid part of the workflow rather than a bottleneck.

The ability to communicate is also important. Even though the work is mostly focused on numbers, the auditor also needs to communicate results and conclusions effectively. A certain amount of diplomacy and human skills come in handy when implementing new business controls and procedures. A good understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) is also preferred.

Career Path

After several years as an Internal Auditor, the natural and most common next step is to become a Senior Internal Auditor. This position has an average salary of $75,654 and shifts more focus to policy making and not on policy enforcement.

The next step will be an internal audit manager with an average salary of 97,589. This job focuses on managing the audit team and interacting with external auditors. Larger firms also offer the position of Senior Audit Manager at an average salary of $87,453 or Director of Internal Audit at an average salary of $126,656. The last step is either a partner or CFO.

Another path from an internal auditor is to first step up to senior accountant, at an average salary of $65,360, and then move on to the position of financial controller, at a median salary of $80,074, and then the position of financial director.