Many internal auditors will find that their salaries will go well above the six-figure level with just a few years of experience under their belt. This is a salary that a manager of a large business could only dream about. This just goes to show you that this is a field that provides a lot of job security and a very nice paycheck to go along with it. Therefore, now that you know that this is certainly a profitable career, you are probably wondering how you go about getting into this line of work.
The first thing that you will need to do is to attend college and earn your four-year degree. There is no set field of study that you have to earn your degree in for going into a finance career. Generally speaking though, many go for a degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Engineering, or Liberal Arts. Many find that learning the traits of a good manager helps them understand the roles of their job. Even though these are all fields of study that will work, the average hiring manager would rather see you have a degree in accounting or business. In addition, you may want to think about expanding on your education, as some companies will only look at applicants with a Masters Degree.
After you have your college degree, you cannot let your education stop there. You have to continue and gain your professional certification, such as the CIA certification, otherwise known as the Certified Internal Auditor certification. Usually, this consists of four different exams that are given by the IIA, otherwise known as the Institute of Internal Auditors. The internal auditors with the right certifications will have many more job opportunities knocking down their door.
The exams that you will have to take will cover finance, internal controls, accounting, taxation, technology, and general business subjects. You can find out more details regarding this certification by visiting the IIA website. But certification is not where it ends. In order to land the job of your dreams and not just some job as someone's assistant, you need to make sure that you gain the experience needed to make great first impressions on a resume.
While in college you might consider interning somewhere that can give you the additional training you need to be a valuable member of a business team someday. You should also remember that with the certifications comes a yearly requirement for continuing your education credits. This will ensure that you are on top of your game at all times and that you will continue to be a valuable asset to any company that hires you. The job of an internal auditor is an important one so this is not one that you can just "wing it" on.
The key is to make sure that you are getting the right education, the right experience, and also have as many certifications as possible. These are the things that are looked at once you start sending out your resume to become a manager or an auditor. Those with the most certifications and the best references to back them up will be the ones that earn over six figures within their first few years working in the field.
Once you are ready to start sending out that resume, make sure that you have a friend, professor, or a professional service look it over. Your resume is your first and possibly your last chance at grabbing someone's attention at the company you want to work for. You have to make sure that your resume says all of the right things to ensure that you get an interview. Once you have the interview, it is up to you to work your magic and prove to your potential employer that you have what it takes to be their new internal auditor.
