Additional Information
Although an accounting background is common for auditors, it is not necessarily
a requirement. Some auditors get into the profession with a law, engineering
or science degree.
Rob Clark sits on the board of directors for the Association of College
and University Auditors. He says he has hired auditors with business or IT
degrees, and then taught them the auditing skills. But according to Lynn Morley,
past president of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), most companies
want potential employees to have some auditing experience.
Students might want to look for universities and colleges that offer co-op
or internship programs to help them get the needed experience.
A few American universities have these programs in place. The IIA offers
accreditation courses, although these are not mandatory to become an auditor.
Morley says that these courses are only available to those who have some
auditing experience. Therefore, it's important to get involved with a company
and get experience in their internal auditing department. "It's a learn-as-you-go
type of profession," says Morley.
Many auditors have at least one, and sometimes several, accounting designations.
John Muirhead is an auditor who specializes in information systems. He
says that in the U.S., more emphasis is put on the IIA certification than
the professional accounting designations.