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: External Auditors
External auditors provide auditing services to organizations on a short-term contractual basis. The most common function of an external auditor is to provide an objective public opinion concerning the organization's financial statements and whether they fairly and accurately represent the organization's financial position. External auditors are typically employed by public accounting firms. Internal Auditors
Internal auditors are directly employed by the organizations they are tasked with auditing including corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies. Internal auditors work independently within the organization to provide objective financial and operational audits touching on many aspects of the organization's day-to-day operations. 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.