Internal Audit
Internal Auditing is widely misunderstood and often confused with work done by External Auditors. There are relevant, transferable skills but the job, in essence, is very different. For a new or post-qualified accountant, Internal Audit offers the opportunity to impact on an entire organisation, with immediate exposure to senior management and board members.
Internal Auditors today are agents of change, relied upon to improve the business they work within. Responsible for assessing an organisation’s efficiency in meeting its objectives, they will negotiate hard to convince management of the benefits of making a change in their business processes, systems and controls.
The keen analytical skills of an Internal Auditor means they are often regarded by senior management as the eyes and ears of the business. Liaising at this level requires them to have highly developed report writing and presentation skills and a level of ambition, professionalism and integrity unique at this early career stage.
International or national travel is often part and parcel of an Internal Auditors role, with the large, multinational brands more likely to demand extensive travel. The opportunity to examine the operational parts of businesses in an international context is unique to this role.
Career progression is an obvious question for any recently qualified accountant. Internal Auditors typically have the chance to spend between two to three years in their first role examining all parts of a business, giving them a good vantage point from which to make decisions about their career path. They are also in regular contact with senior management, building relationships with the decision makers that could help them to realise their ambitions.
Possible career paths include going into a senior role within mainstream finance, leading possibly to a Finance Directors role. Other options include a business and strategic facing role or becoming more senior within Internal Audit function.
Whichever path you choose, working within Internal Audit keeps doors open and presents professionals with regular, exciting opportunities to progress their career. The state of the economy means Internal Audit is held in high regard. In fact, who could be better placed to move into a strategic or senior role than someone who has examined the entire operations of a company?
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For further information about Internal Audit and the services we offer in this sector, please e-mail Victoria Kahane or call 020 7269 2281
