How to hire an internal auditor

How to hire an internal auditor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step internal auditor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an internal auditor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new internal auditor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an internal auditor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The internal auditor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An internal auditor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, internal auditors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of internal auditors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Internal Auditor	Description	Hourly rate
   Internal Auditor	Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time... Show more	$21-41
   Auditor Supervisor	An auditor supervisor is a financial professional who manages a staff of audit professionals and controls consulting engagements that evaluate the management and operating practices of a corporate. This supervisor is required to supervise audit planning and fieldwork as well as communicates findings and recommendations to senior management... Show more	$28-55
   Auditor/Consultant	The duties of an auditor/consultant depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities include coordinating with different departments to gather and analyze data, performing audits and assessments on all financial activities, looking out for any errors and discrepancies, reviewing documentation, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of current systems, and developing strategies to optimize all operations... Show more	$28-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPA
   • Risk Management
   • SOX
   • Audit Findings
   • Audit Procedures
   • Internal Audit Function
   • Risk Assessments
   • Financial Statements
   • Audit Programs
   • Sarbanes-Oxley
   • Business Processes
   • PowerPoint
   • External Auditors
   • Internal Control Procedures

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and coordinate annual external business evaluation in conjunction with CPA consultants.
   • Work with department analyst to create measurement tools and methods for communicating results and managing QA analysis in compiling/reporting results.
   • Conduct complex performance audits, fraud investigations, special projects and routine follow-up reviews in accordance with IIA standards.
   • Perform tests of critical controls in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley legislation and report results utilizing company compliance tool to validate SOX checklist.
   • Develop company FDA policy & procedures for liquid oxygen small bulk delivery vessels.
   • Perform planning, compliance testing, substantive analysis and testing in accordance with GAAS.

   More internal auditor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your internal auditor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An internal auditor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an internal auditor in Arkansas may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level internal auditor usually earns less than a senior-level internal auditor. Additionally, an internal auditor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average internal auditor salary

   $63,013yearly

   $30.29 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level internal auditor salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average internal auditor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$81,648	$39
   2	New York	$76,311	$37
   3	California	$75,909	$36
   4	Massachusetts	$69,598	$33
   5	Connecticut	$67,371	$32
   6	Pennsylvania	$66,309	$32
   7	Michigan	$65,183	$31
   8	Virginia	$64,512	$31
   9	Georgia	$63,947	$31
   10	Delaware	$63,283	$30
   11	North Carolina	$62,757	$30
   12	Texas	$61,564	$30
   13	Ohio	$61,286	$29
   14	Colorado	$61,213	$29
   15	Illinois	$61,187	$29
   16	Minnesota	$60,933	$29
   17	Maryland	$59,209	$28
   18	Arizona	$58,109	$28
   19	Florida	$56,437	$27
   20	Kansas	$55,517	$27

   Average internal auditor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$121,915	$58.61	6
   2	Google	$112,915	$54.29
   3	Apple	$103,389	$49.71	1
   4	Adobe	$102,001	$49.04
   5	Intuit	$100,748	$48.44	1
   6	Cisco	$98,886	$47.54
   7	KLA	$98,264	$47.24
   8	eBay	$97,948	$47.09	2
   9	Marathon Petroleum	$97,706	$46.97	2
   10	Virtu Financial	$97,629	$46.94
   11	Citi	$97,106	$46.69	5
   12	First Republic Bank	$96,021	$46.16
   13	ING Financial Holdings Corporation	$95,664	$45.99
   14	General Motors	$95,225	$45.78	2
   15	Barclays	$94,322	$45.35	2
   16	Oracle	$94,200	$45.29
   17	Burlington	$93,628	$45.01
   18	Dolby Laboratories	$92,994	$44.71
   19	Amd	$92,596	$44.52
   20	OmniVision Technologies	$91,163	$43.83

4. Writing an internal auditor job description

   A job description for an internal auditor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an internal auditor job description:

   Internal auditor job description example

   LHC Group is the preferred post-acute care partner for hospitals, physicians and families nationwide. From home health and hospice care to long-term acute care and home and community-based services, we deliver high-quality, cost-effective care that empowers patients to manage their health at home. Hospitals and health systems around the country have partnered with LHC Group to deliver patient-centered care in the home. More hospitals, physicians and families choose LHC Group, because we are united by a single, shared purpose:
   It's all about helping people .
   
   The purpose of the Internal Auditor position is to review, analyze, and interpret financial and operational data, including compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, and to study and evaluate key business processes. The efficiency and effectiveness of the information is evaluated and communicated. Final results are communicated to operational management. Significant results will be reviewed and analyzed by the Internal Audit Manager and reported to senior management and the audit committee. The position is supervised by the Internal Audit Manager.
   
   Essential Functions
   
   Performs audits and special projects to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of corporate operations, compliance with laws, government regulations, and corporate policies and procedures requiring. Pursues a professional and personal program of development. Participation in departmental and corporate administrative responsibilities, including providing input to development of the annual audit plan. Develops detailed audit plans and programs. Prepares work papers documenting the audit procedures performed. Prepares comprehensive written reports. Provides assistance to external auditors as requested. Special projects as may be assigned. Assists in developing recommendations for corrective actions/improvement. Communicates both orally and in writing with auditees to advise and comment on current, needed or planned programs and operations. Applies training and analytical tools to audit and examine financial and information systems, management procedures and internal controls. Establishes and maintains professional relationships with the auditee and others outside and within the department.
   Education & Experience
   
   Formal Education: Bachelor's Degree Experience: 1 year Bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university. Three years of full-time experience in auditing at a health care organization is a plus. Certification as a CIA, CPA, or CISA preferred. Must have strong analytical, organizational, and problem solving skills with an attention to detail. Must have the ability to perform work with little or no supervision. Must possess a basic understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), accounting systems, sound internal control techniques, acceptable business practices, information systems, sound documentation methods, and standard audit techniques. Must have good interpersonal skills including the ability to interview individuals associated with the subject of an audit. Must have knowledge of quantitative analysis methods (statistical sampling, present value analysis, ROI, etc.) Must possess a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint software. Must have good project management skills.
   
   Benefits and More
   
   Competitive Pay Flexible Schedules Paid Time Off Tuition Reimbursement Medical, dental, and vision packages 401(k) Match Program Rapid Career Advancement Opportunities Internal promotions with a career plan All-encompassing Orientation and Fast Trak option for Home Care experienced clinicians Great Culture - join our family!
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer - vets, disability.
   
   Must be fully vaccinated or be willing to complete full vaccination by date of hire and proof of vaccination will be required. If permitted by state law, the company will consider requests for religious or medical exemptions.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right internal auditor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with internal auditors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit internal auditors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your internal auditor job on Zippia to find and recruit internal auditor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit internal auditors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new internal auditor

   Once you've decided on a perfect internal auditor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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