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Internal auditor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Kelly Green,

Stacy Mastrolia Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical internal auditor skills. We ranked the top skills for internal auditors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.4% of internal auditor resumes contained cpa as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an internal auditor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 internal auditor skills for your resume and career

1. CPA

Here's how internal auditors use cpa:

Participated in and supervised domestic and international audits of various manufacturing plants while completing my experience requirement for my CPA license.
Managed and coordinated annual external business evaluation in conjunction with CPA consultants.

2. Risk Management

Risk management is the method of recognizing, evaluating, and managing risks to an organization's resources and profits. Financial insecurity, regulatory liability, strategic management mistakes, incidents, and natural hazards are just some of the challenges or dangers that could arise. For digitalized businesses, IT security vulnerabilities and data-related threats, as well as risk management techniques to mitigate them, have become top priorities.

Here's how internal auditors use risk management:

Participated in special investigations and reviews including employee and vendor misconduct, bankruptcy analysis, risk management, and fraud activity.
Assisted management in developing adequate internal controls and providing assurance that risk management, internal controls and governance systems function properly.

3. SOX

Here's how internal auditors use sox:

Assumed full accountability for validating compliance of business controls and analyzing performance risks in accordance with SOX regulations.
Evaluated internal control systems and assisted in implementation of internal control process for company adhering to SOX.

4. Audit Findings

Here's how internal auditors use audit findings:

Prepare detailed reports in accordance with IIA standards on audit findings and provide relevant recommendations for correction and enhancement of current processes
Performed audits of financial statements and internal controls including examination of business risks, and reported audit findings and recommendations.

5. Audit Procedures

Here's how internal auditors use audit procedures:

Recommended audit improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness of audit procedures and provided recommendations for enhancing and improving current business processes.
Performed independent risk assessment to develop nature, timing and extent of further audit procedures in financial and operational audits.

6. Internal Audit Function

Here's how internal auditors use internal audit function:

Performed essential internal audit functions including inventory observations, general ledger account reviews, operations reviews, and fraud investigations.
Assisted in the development, coordination and administration of internal audit functions including standards, documentation, procedures and systems

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7. Risk Assessments

The process of analyzing and identifying the acts or events that have the potential to negatively affect an individual, asset, or business is called risk assessment. Risk assessments are important because they form an integral part of an organization as well as occupational safety plans

Here's how internal auditors use risk assessments:

Helped redesign the audit approach based on changing environment and participated in risk assessments with an operational approach.
Performed internal risk assessments, conducted gap analysis against industry standards, and provided recommendations on mitigation options.

8. Financial Statements

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Here's how internal auditors use financial statements:

Prepared, analyzed, and verified financial statements using accepted accounting procedures to assess financial condition and facilitate corrections.
Performed audit fieldwork to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of budgeting and accounting records, reports and financial statements.

9. Audit Programs

Here's how internal auditors use audit programs:

Developed and executed risk-based audit programs to assess the operating effectiveness of internal controls and to ensure a sound financial management.
Developed and executed audit programs and prepared detailed audit work papers, prepared written reports of audit results and audit recommendations.

10. Sarbanes-Oxley

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (or SOX Act) is a U.S. government law that expects to secure financial backers by making corporate divulgences more solid and transparent. The Act was created as a result of bookkeeping errors.

Here's how internal auditors use sarbanes-oxley:

Performed tests of critical controls in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley legislation and reported results utilizing company compliance tool to validate SOX checklist.
Performed Sarbanes-Oxley assessments by working with process owners to document all relevant processes and internal controls using flowcharts and narratives.

11. Business Processes

Here's how internal auditors use business processes:

Documented/identified improvements to optimize business processes.
Preserved business value by identifying redundant business processes/controls and the nature of underlying weaknesses, through operational audits and/test of controls.

12. PowerPoint

Here's how internal auditors use powerpoint:

Prepared PowerPoint summaries of the teams internal audit analysis, and provided recommendations for areas of improvement.
Conducted training classes on how to properly prepare cash flow sheets and other financial forms via PowerPoint presentations.

13. External Auditors

Here's how internal auditors use external auditors:

Collaborate with external auditors on financial/operational engagements.
Worked in tandem with independent external auditors, performing substantive testing and providing data for quarterly reporting processes.

14. Internal Control Procedures

Internal control procedures are procedures and mechanisms implemented by an organization to ensure effective and efficient organization's objectives, reliable financial reporting, minimize error and control risks to an organization, compliance of organization's policies and regulations, safeguarding assets, etc.

Here's how internal auditors use internal control procedures:

Identified internal control weaknesses, developed proper internal control procedures and conducted system, operational, and compliance training.
Participated in the annual corporate audit, coordinated joint venture audits, developed and monitored internal control procedures.

15. Audit Results

Here's how internal auditors use audit results:

Analyze audit results and implement necessary actions to resolve compliance issues and interpret complex regulations to ensure adherence to in organization.
Communicated audit results via written reports and oral presentations to management and provided supporting documentation, particularly metrics assessed as failures.

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What skills help Internal Auditors find jobs?

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What internal auditor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Kelly Green

Assistant Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Education and Certificates pull a lot when determining the salaries and positions offered. Quite simply higher degrees and relevant certifications will lead to higher salaries. Aside from that, gaining experience and staying up to date with salary trends in your particular field of accounting will allow you to explore new opportunities with higher salaries.

What soft skills should all internal auditors possess?

Stacy Mastrolia Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Accounting, Bucknell University

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, accountants should possess analytical skills, critical-thinking skills, and communication skills. They should also be detail-oriented and possess strong math and organizational skills (www.bls.gov). Of course, we can all agree that technology and teamwork skills are also necessary for successful accountants.

While these skills are still in high demand for accountants, post-pandemic, I believe we will see an increased need for job candidates to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability. This year's graduates are entering a work environment that is not "traditional"; at this point it seems unlikely that this year's graduates will start their careers in a traditional office (or at a client) in close proximity to more experienced professionals who are immediately available to provide instruction and assistance. So, this year's graduates need to be prepared - professionally and emotionally - to adapt to the work environment in place at their employer. And they need to be prepared for that environment to change with little warning. This semester I am teaching almost exclusively undergraduate seniors, and at Bucknell we started classes in-person, after one week we went remote for two weeks and now we are back to in-person learning. During these transitions, I have found that some students are struggling to keep up with the material; they are falling behind and missing deadlines in far greater numbers than in previous semesters. The ability to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances while still accomplishing goals will be in great demand by employers.

I also think that graduates should place an emphasis on developing time-management skills and the ability to prioritize effectively. Alternative work environments, like working remotely, remove certain cues that the day is passing. For example, in a "normal" work day, a young professional would find routines including a mid-morning coffee break and lunch with friends or colleagues and these daily routines would help to mark the passing of time. When someone works from home, these cues may not occur naturally so time can "slip away". Also, working from home provides any number of distractions that may seem urgent in the moment but are not important to achieve that day's work goals; effectively prioritizing tasks in a distracting environment is a skill that will also be in great demand by employers.

Do you want to know more?

List of internal auditor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an internal auditor resume and required skills for an internal auditor to have include:

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
Audit Results
Strong Analytical
GAAP

Compliance Audits
Customer Service
Operational Audits
Audit Process
Process Improvement
Audit Plan
Sox Testing
Audit Committee
ISO
Regulatory Compliance
COSO
Human Resources
Audit Issues
Financial Audits
Audit Tests
Payroll
Internal Audit

Audit Scope
Audit Recommendations
Corrective Action
Management System
Medicare
Federal Regulations
Financial Data
Audit Engagements
Executive Management
Taxation
Corporate Policies
Financial Reports
Audit Objectives
General Ledger
Fraud Investigations

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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