Title: Financial Auditor: Career Path and Qualifications
Headings: Financial Auditor: Career Path and Qualifications
Financial Auditor: Career Path and Qualifications
Key Takeaways
Types of Financial Auditors
External Auditors
Internal Auditors
Career Path of a Financial Auditor
What Type of Education Is Needed?
How to Get CPA Certification and Licensing
Additional Certifications for an Auditor

Content: Internal auditors at publicly traded companies generally report to the audit committee of the company's board of directors. This ensures auditors are free to report on operational problems or instances of fraud no matter who is involved within the company. Career Path of a Financial Auditor
A financial auditor can begin working in a junior position in the field immediately after obtaining a qualifying degree and a license or professional certification if one is required. Some financial auditors transition into these positions after working in another business field, such as accounting, finance or computer information systems. With adequate experience and a record of good performance, both external and internal financial auditors can typically move into more senior positions with responsibility for complex audit projects. Senior financial auditors plan audits and lead audit teams to complete projects. Depending on the organization, an opportunity for advancement into higher-level management roles may be possible. What Type of Education Is Needed? An external auditor who works in a public accounting firm generally requires either a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in accounting. This matches the educational qualification for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, which is generally required to work as an external auditor.