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The differences between senior auditors and audit specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior auditor has an average salary of $74,382, which is higher than the $58,291 average annual salary of an audit specialist.
The top three skills for a senior auditor include CPA, internal audit and audit reports. The most important skills for an audit specialist are audit reports, patients, and customer service.
| Senior Auditor | Audit Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $74,382 | $58,291 |
| Hourly rate | $35.76 | $28.02 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 23,025 | 40,071 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Senior auditors have a vital role to play in the financial auditing process. They hold more responsibilities compared to staff auditors and report to an auditing manager directly. They have varied duties and responsibilities, including assigning tasks to staff auditors, overseeing compliant and precise auditing processes, and performing control and risk assessments. Senior auditors also are responsible for presenting audit findings, coordinating periodical audits, and submitting reports to the manager. If you are looking to apply for this role, you need to have a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, strong analytical and mathematical skills, and proficiency in MS Office.
An audit specialist is responsible for evaluating the reports by a professional auditor that will assist in improving the growth of the organization to achieve its goals and objectives. Audit specialists aid in the development of the company by using a systematic approach to reach the goals set by the company. Primary responsibilities include operating complex and difficult audit projects and conducting audits of control, financial, and other operating records. Also, they develop, implement distinct audit strategies, programs, and procedures for intricate assignments.
Senior auditors and audit specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Auditor | Audit Specialist | |
| Average salary | $74,382 | $58,291 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $101,000 | Between $34,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | SAP |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a senior auditor and an audit specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Auditor | Audit Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior auditors' and audit specialists' demographics:
| Senior Auditor | Audit Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.7% Female, 37.3% | Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 14.2% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 12.1% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |