Auditor Career Description
Auditors examine and audit the financial statements of an organization to ensure that the records reflect the true financial state of the business and that the procedures employed are correct.
What am I going to do in this occupation?
Qualified auditors can choose between different career paths, namely a career in the profession itself, the civil service, the academic field, commerce and industry and many others.
In practice a large part of auditors' tasks are still auditing, but today it is more scientific and modern aids like computers are used.
Other services rendered by auditors in practice, because of their specific training, include advice to clients concerning tax- and estate- planning, installing and operating computers, secretarial support and general management advice services, which are a great advantage for various businesses.
The following fields of specialization exist:
Auditing
Auditors investigate the financial reports of the company and then report on it.
Accounting
"Pure" accounting work comprises the preparation of financial statements, the giving of advice with regard to accounting systems, budgets, cash flow and the improvement of profit margins.
Tax
Tax specialists give advice concerning tax matters, such as the determination and legal saving of tax.
Legal matters
Mercantile law and company law give auditors the opportunity to handle the legal aspects of contracts, such as with letting and hire purchase.
Cost-accounting
Auditors specialize in the field of calculation of expenses and the implementation and development of cost-accounting measures.
Computer science
This field especially comprises the development and implementing of programs for electronic information-processing, the planning of financial models and the giving of advice regarding hard- and software purchases.
Planning and management
Planning is an important management function. Planning the macro- and micro level, long- and short-term forecasts, feasibility studies and the financial planning of new projects must be done continuously.
Management also includes administration, secretarial, financial and various other facets of business management.
Requirements
What kind of personality do I need? Successful auditors are people who can work creatively and think logically, have a strong analytical predisposition and like challenges. They must be willing to work very hard and be in command of good social and communicational skills.
Where can I work?
There is a constant demand for persons with a CA Certificate. The nature of their training enables auditors to hold prestigious positions, for example as managers, accountants, internal auditors or even financial executives of local and international undertakings.
Auditors can also work for commercial undertakings, industries, municipalities, banks, mines, insurance companies and so forth.
Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Auditors can also start their own private auditors' firm. Because auditors have a lot of business knowledge, many of them start their own business.
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