One specific CV challenge you may face as an auditor is effectively conveying your expertise in risk assessment and regulatory compliance within a limited space. Our guide provides targeted tips and examples to help you concisely highlight these skills, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
How complex should the format of your auditor CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your auditor CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a auditor CV
- Professional Summary showcases your auditing experience, highlighting skills and specialisations that set you apart.
- Auditing Certifications, such as ACA or ACCA, indicate your professional qualifications and expertise in the field.
- Work Experience details your previous roles and how you've successfully conducted audit assignments or contributed to teams.
- Technical Skills highlights your proficiency in audit software and tools crucial in modern auditing practices.
- Education and Training lists your relevant degrees and courses that have prepared you for a career in auditing.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your proficiency with auditing standards and regulations by providing examples of how you applied frameworks like GAAP, IFRS, or ISA in previous roles, ensuring your technical expertise is evident.
- Emphasise your analytical skills by mentioning specific instances where your attention to detail and critical thinking led to the identification and resolution of financial discrepancies or improvements in financial systems.
- Demonstrate your ability to manage risk by describing your experience in conducting risk assessments, implementing internal controls, and providing recommendations to enhance business operations.
- Include any relevant certifications, such as ACCA or ACA, as these are key qualifications for auditors and show a commitment to professional development within the field.
- Detail your communication and teamwork abilities by including experiences where you collaborated with cross-functional teams or communicated complex audit findings to stakeholders at various levels of an organisation.
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Making a good first impression with your auditor CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for auditor:
- Senior Internal Auditor | Risk Management Expert | Certified Internal Auditor | 10+ Years' Experience
- Forensic Audit Lead | Fraud Detection Specialist | ACA Qualified | 8 Years in Field
- Audit Manager | Financial Compliance Guru | Chartered Accountant | 12 Years' Progressive Experience
- Junior External Auditor | Financial Reporting Enthusiast | ACCA Part-Qualified | 3 Years Big 4 Exposure
- IT Audit Consultant | Cybersecurity Focus | CISA Certified | 6 Years Industry Experience
- Head of Audit | Strategic Business Partner | ICAEW Member | 15+ Years' Leadership Track Record
What's the difference between a auditor CV summary and objective
Why should it matter to you?
- Your auditor CV summary is a showcasing your career ambitions and your unique value. Use the objective to answer why your potential employers should hire you based on goals and ambitions. The objective is the ideal choice for candidates who happen to have less professional experience, but still meet some of the job requirements.
Before you select which one will be more relevant to your experience, have a look at some industry-leading CV summaries and objectives.
CV summaries for a auditor job:
- Seasoned auditor with over 10 years of experience in financial compliance and risk management, with a proven record of identifying inefficiencies and implementing corrective actions that boosted a Fortune 500 company's revenue by 15%. Proficient in using data analytic tools such as ACL and Tableau to enhance audit processes.
- Diligent financial professional transitioning from a 7-year tenure in corporate finance to auditing, bringing advanced analytical skills, comprehensive understanding of regulatory frameworks, and a successful track record of managing multi-million-pound budgets to ensure financial integrity and transparency.
- Former IT consultant with 5 years of experience, eager to leverage extensive knowledge of information systems and cybersecurity protocols into an auditing career. Recognized for improving system efficiencies by 25% through meticulous analysis and strategic planning, aiming to transition skills to safeguarding financial operations.
- Proficient in forensic accounting and possessing a keen eye for detail, this individual has successfully uncovered discrepancies amounting to over £500,000 in previous financial auditing roles. Eight years’ experience have honed their expertise in IFRS and GAAP, alongside advanced certifications in CFE and CPA.
- Seeking to pivot professional focus towards auditing by applying a decade of management experience, honed analytical skills and a Master's degree in Business Administration, to develop a meticulous approach to financial systems, controls, and compliance, ensuring accuracy and accountability in fiscal reporting.
- Aiming to utilize a strong foundation in mathematics and a passion for problem-solving to launch a career in auditing. With extensive volunteer experience serving as a treasurer for community organizations, seeks to translate precision, dedication, and a fresh perspective to professional financial oversight.
Best practices for writing your auditor CV experience section
If your profile matches the job requirements, the CV experience is the section which recruiters will spend the most time studying. Within your experience bullets, include not merely your career history, but, rather, your skills and outcomes from each individual role. Your best experience section should promote your profile by:
- including specific details and hard numbers as proof of your past success;
- listing your experience in the functional-based or hybrid format (by focusing on the skills), if you happen to have less professional, relevant expertise;
- showcasing your growth by organising your roles, starting with the latest and (hopefully) most senior one;
- staring off each experience bullet with a verb, following up with skills that match the job description, and the outcomes of your responsibility.
Add keywords from the job advert in your experience section, like the professional CV examples:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Conducted comprehensive financial audits for various companies, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and identifying financial discrepancies.
- Implemented risk-based audit strategies, effectively improving the identification of potential areas of financial risk and recommending control improvements.
- Participated in annual audit planning, aligning audit goals with strategic business objectives and mitigating risks through thorough audit scopes and approaches.
- Reviewed and tested internal controls, providing insightful feedback to management on the effectiveness of risk management and suggesting enhancements where necessary.
- Led audit teams through the execution of complex audit engagements, fostering teamwork and delivering high-quality audit reports within tight deadlines.
- Communicated audit findings and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders, using clear language and ensuring understanding of both the issues and the impacts.
- Stayed abreast of changes in accounting standards, auditing legislation, and financial regulations, applying updated knowledge to current and future audits.
- Maintained a commitment to professional ethical standards and protected the confidentiality of audit clients and sensitive financial information.
- Developed strong relationships with clients to facilitate a cooperative and transparent audit process, gaining trust and ensuring access to all necessary information.
- Lead a team of 5 associates ensuring compliance with audit methodologies and a 25% reduction in discrepancies, due to stringent quality control measures.
- Pioneered the use of data analytics tools for financial audits at KPMG, improving audit efficiency by 40% within my portfolio of clients.
- Spearheaded a client-audit adjustment resulting in savings of £1.2M in regulatory penalties for a major financial institution.
- Supervised a portfolio of 20+ clients across various sectors, ensuring adherence to financial regulations and internal policies.
- Implemented a continuous auditing approach that decreased the time to report by 30%, enhancing clients’ timely decision making.
- Led the transition to remote auditing practices for EY in response to the global pandemic, maintaining 100% operational continuity and client satisfaction.
- Identified operational inefficiencies in supply chain processes and provided actionable recommendations saving the company an estimated £500,000 annually.
- Conducted comprehensive risk assessments annually, covering all major processes within the organization to mitigate any potential financial losses.
- Collaborated on developing the internal audit software suite, which improved reporting accuracy and facilitated more thorough audits at PwC.
- Managed audit engagements across telecommunications and media industries, ensuring audit practices were up to date with evolving sector-specific challenges.
- Led a client-facing project for Deloitte that uncovered significant tax overpayments, eventually recovering £750,000 in tax savings for the client.
- Revamped the audit report presentation format, leading to a 50% increase in report clarity as stated by client feedback.
- Managed a cross-functional team of auditors responsible for evaluating the financial statements of publicly traded companies.
- Developed a new model for predictive risk analysis, better preparing clients for potential future market changes and aligning them with BDO’s strategic goals.
- Championed a client service initiative that improved the overall customer experience, as evidenced by a 20% increase in client retention rates.
- Executed detailed financial statement audits for Grant Thornton's key clients in the manufacturing sector, enhancing investor confidence through transparent reporting.
- Engaged with cross-departmental teams to streamline the audit process, cutting down the annual audit cycle by three weeks.
- Facilitated training of 30 new auditors, upskilling them in the latest audit practices and ensuring Grant Thornton’s service quality.
- Orchestrated the end-to-end audit process for SMEs, providing insights that led to an average of 15% cost reduction in financial waste.
- Customized audit frameworks for each client which were adopted as part of the standard operating procedures at Baker Tilly, promoting consistency and accountability.
- Authored a white paper on the impact of regulatory changes in the fintech industry, which became a reference point for Baker Tilly's audit strategy.
- Oversaw and reported on the annual financial audits of international NGOs for Mazars, enhancing donor trust and compliance with international funding guidelines.
- Implemented a tailored audit approach for startups and scale-ups, which became a niche service offering for Mazars, growing the client base by 25%.
- Initiated a partnership with software developers to create an innovative audit documentation tool, increasing departmental productivity by 35%.
Writing your CV without professional experience for your first job or when switching industries
There comes a day, when applying for a job, you happen to have no relevant experience, whatsoever. Yet, you're keen on putting your name in the hat. What should you do? Candidates who part-time experience , internships, and volunteer work.
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If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
The CV skills' divide: between hard and soft skills
Of course, you may have read the job requirements plenty of times now, but it's key to note that there is a difference between technical and personal skills. Both are equally relevant to your job application. When writing about your skill set, ensure you've copy-pasted the precise skill from the job requirement. This would not only help you ensure you have the correct spelling, but also pass any Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessments.
- Hard skills show your technological capabilities. Or whether you'll be a good technical fit to the organisation. Ensure you've spotlighted your hard skills in various sections of your CV (e.g. skills section, projects, experience) by including the technology and what you've attained;
- Soft skills pinpoint your personality and people or communication skills, hinting at if you'll easily accomodate into the team or organisation. Quantify your soft skills in your CV achievements, strengths, summary/objective, and experience sections. Always support your soft skills with how they've helped you grow as a professional.
Top skills for your auditor CV:
Financial Reporting
Internal Controls
Auditing Standards
Risk Assessment
Compliance
Accounting Software Proficiency
Analytical Thinking
Financial Analysis
Data Analytics
Tax Knowledge
Attention to Detail
Critical Thinking
Communication
Problem-Solving
Organisational
Time Management
Discretion
Stakeholder Management
Integrity
Adaptability
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your auditor CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your auditor CV:
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional auditor CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
