Five Reasons You Should Consider a Career in Auditing
Whether you’re in high school, college, grad school, or just getting started in the workforce, you’re probably getting a lot of career advice. But how often does public company auditing come up as an option? Not as much as it should.
And what exactly does an auditor at a public accounting firm do, you ask? Hint: It’s not taxes! Public company auditors review a company’s financial statements and attest to their accuracy. In fact, auditors are critical to the integrity of our financial markets so they’re truly making a difference in people’s lives.
But back to YOU! Here are the top 5 reasons you should consider a career in audit:
1. You can bank on it!
On average, public company auditors, with at least two years of professional experience, bring home more than $65,000 a year. Plus, if you stay at a firm and make partner, an analysis by the Center for Audit Quality showed that many audit partners in large public company accounting firms can make close to a million dollars a year!
2. Always moving up.
As a public company auditor, you will have endless opportunities to continue your education and development, while still getting paid. Consider it an MBA without the student debt. Also, after only a few years on the job, many public company auditors are supervising teams and participating in meetings with some of the smartest business executives around. How’s that for growth?!
“One CAQ Governing Board member said that he “never would have thought debits and credits would have gotten me here. I have sat on panels with Bill Gates, interviewed Presidents Bush and Clinton, and stood on the red carpet at the Oscars.” He even went to the White House to hand Michelle Obama the envelope to announce the winner of the Best Picture Oscar in 2013.”
3. It’s a job in high demand.
As long as there is business to be done, there will be a job for auditors. Experts say the number of jobs for accountants and auditors will grow 11 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for many other occupations.
Not only are accounting graduates in demand, accounting students are too! Need a summer job while you’re in college? Most firms offer the chance to participate in paid internship programs as early as your sophomore year, with the chance of getting an offer for full-time employment before you even graduate.
4. You could see the world.
Because public company auditors are in high demand, you can work pretty much anywhere. It might require some extra training, but a career in public company auditing could take you around the world. So, make sure you have your passport handy at all times!
Plus, many public company auditors never work in the same place every day. Whether it be your home, the client site, traveling, or the occasional trip to the office, auditors are constantly on the move!
5. Make lifelong connections.
Similar to starting school as a freshman, when you join public company auditing, you will come on board with a starting class of many other young professionals as new to the working world as you are. You will learn together, grow together, and possibly develop priceless lifelong friendships and relationships with people you meet in your starting class. #workfam
Not convinced yet? If you choose a career in audit, you can work with tech companies, banks, healthcare organizations, and retail companies to name a few. How awesome would it be to see the inner workings of companies like Apple, Google, Coca-Cola, or even Louis Vuitton?!
Explore more at discoveraudit.org to learn how to you can discover your career in audit.