What does an audit assistant do?
It is the job of an audit assistant to monitor and analyze the financial reports of a business enterprise. Audit assistants prepare the financial reports and ensure compliance with the tax regulations. They determine both the strengths and weaknesses of the finances of an organization. Their job includes checking the accuracy of accounting procedures and systems. They make a review, assessment, and recommendations for changes in business unit accounting systems and controls.
Audit assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real audit assistant resumes:
- Manage quarterly reviews (10-Q) and annual audit (10-K) of two public companies as per PCAOB standards.
- Communicate with health facility staff, consultants and CPA regarding the resolution of technical, accounting and conceptual errors.
- Go on audit with team, work with clients collecting data they already have prepared and pass out to each CPA.
- Submit payroll information on all associates bi-weekly.
- Generate PowerPoint presentations as required for various staff members.
- Participate in SOX compliance audit for an international medical manufacturing company.
- Review corporate policy and procedures for inconsistencies in the SOX documentation.
- Evaluate the operating effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley.
- Assign proper classifications to payroll, recognize exclusions and elect coverage and allow overtime reductions when permit.
- Select to oversee testing of design and operating effectiveness of clients' financial reporting controls for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
- Follow quality control measures to remain compliant to Medicare regulations.
- Verify that Medicare billing cycle and coding levels match provider documentation.
- Coordinate medical record appeals for both facility and professional lines of business.
Audit assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of Audit Assistants are proficient in Audit Reports, CPA, and Risk Assessments. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Integrity, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Audit Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Audit Reports, 30%
Conducted annual internal audits of each operating entity and prepared audit reports for corporate controller and corporate CFO.
- CPA, 11%
Assisted CPA to audit a subsidiary company of Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform and prepare attestation report.
- Risk Assessments, 8%
Assisted managers and seniors in audit planning and risk assessments.
- Audit Procedures, 6%
Performed assigned audit procedures professionally and in accordance with approved auditing standards, under the direction of audit management.
- Analytical Review, 5%
Performed analytical review of audit documents, and reviewed clients accounting and operating procedures and internal control systems.
- Sarbanes-Oxley, 4%
Audited of internal control over financial reporting in public and private companies of the Energy & Gas market including Sarbanes-Oxley.
Common skills that an audit assistant uses to do their job include "audit reports," "cpa," and "risk assessments." You can find details on the most important audit assistant responsibilities below.
Computer skills. The most essential soft skill for an audit assistant to carry out their responsibilities is computer skills. This skill is important for the role because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software." Additionally, an audit assistant resume shows how their duties depend on computer skills: "computerized bank reconciliation for numerous accounts within the township. "
Integrity. Another essential skill to perform audit assistant duties is integrity. Audit assistants responsibilities require that "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have control of an organization’s financial documentation, which they must use properly and keep confidential." Audit assistants also use integrity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "prepared audit reports for the president and board of trustee members of the college. "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of audit assistants is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday audit assistant duties, as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "created trial balances, verified statements, spot checked detailed accounts. "
Math skills. For certain audit assistant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an audit assistant rely on this skill, as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what audit assistants do: "performed routine tax audit assistance, math and theory checking, and preseason office setup of 13 locations. "
The three companies that hire the most audit assistants are:
- Deloitte140 audit assistants jobs
- KPMG LLP118 audit assistants jobs
- Public Company Accounting Oversight Board3 audit assistants jobs
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Audit assistant vs. Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers are employees who are in charge of the company's general ledger. They are well-versed in basic accounting principles, and they apply these in their work. Bookkeepers manage the entry of items in the general ledger, assign items into their proper categories, and ensure that the entries are balanced. They also act as auditors by checking the accuracy and veracity of the receipts or vouchers in their possession before entering them into the system. Bookkeepers ensure that their files are up to date and free of errors.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an audit assistant are more likely to require skills like "audit reports," "risk assessments," "audit procedures," and "analytical review." On the other hand, a job as a bookkeeper requires skills like "payroll tax returns," "customer service," "reconciliations," and "data entry." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Bookkeepers tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $42,063. In contrast, audit assistants make the biggest average salary, $59,552, in the technology industry.The education levels that bookkeepers earn slightly differ from audit assistants. In particular, bookkeepers are 11.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an audit assistant. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Audit assistant vs. Charge bookkeeper
A full charge bookkeeper's primary job is to manage and handle all the accounts of a small or medium-sized business. They are responsible for overseeing the accounting duties for a company, including billing customers, preparing bank statements and tax returns, and processing timesheets. Also, a full charge bookkeeper collates and enters vendor expenses, maintains the ledger's accuracy, and process accounts receivables. There are specific requirements you should meet to become a successful full charge bookkeeper, such as having a bachelor's degree in accounting, previous work experience as a charge bookkeeper, and bookkeeping certification.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real audit assistant resumes. While audit assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "audit reports," "risk assessments," "audit procedures," and "analytical review," charge bookkeepers use skills like "reconciliations," "payroll tax returns," "excellent organizational," and "general ledger accounts."
On average, charge bookkeepers earn a lower salary than audit assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, charge bookkeepers earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $51,567. Whereas audit assistants have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $59,552.charge bookkeepers earn lower levels of education than audit assistants in general. They're 10.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Audit assistant vs. Accounts receivable clerk
An Accounts Receivable Clerk specializes in processing payment records and bill statements of a company or organization. Among the duties include calculating total revenues and unpaid invoices, maintaining financial records and keeping a detailed and organized database, and verifying financial transactions and payment delinquencies. Furthermore, an Accounts Receivable Clerk must resolve and examine deductions, prepare invoices and necessary documentation, and review customer payment plans and history records and coordinate with the collections department should there be any issues.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, audit assistants are more likely to have skills like "audit reports," "cpa," "risk assessments," and "audit procedures." But a accounts receivable clerk is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "data entry," "collection calls," and "credit card payments."
Accounts receivable clerks earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $37,882. Comparatively, audit assistants have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $59,552.When it comes to education, accounts receivable clerks tend to earn lower degree levels compared to audit assistants. In fact, they're 13.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Audit assistant vs. Accounts payable clerk
An accounts payable clerk is responsible for supporting the accounting department by performing clerical duties to file financial reports timely and accurately. Accounts payable clerks manage and verify invoices documents, reconcile balance spreadsheets, process payments for suppliers and vendors, resolve billing discrepancies, confirm and post account statements, record outstanding credits, and maintain an organized record of transactions. An accounts payable clerk must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles to deliver high-quality services and help the business minimize excessive financial loss.
Types of audit assistant
Updated January 8, 2025











