Internal Audit

Normally a division within the finance or operations, Internal Audit attracts professionals for a variety of reasons from career progression, the opportunity to travel and network, and most importantly to influence the bottom line within a large organisation.

To be an effective internal auditor you need to have good communication skills, have the ability to educate/evaluate and introduce recommendations to people at all levels, from junior office staff to senior executives and directors, and most importantly build positive business relationships in the process.

Qualified Accountants tend to take advantage of the unique progression advantages internal audit can over other areas of the business. As a qualified accountant who is looking to gain fast track promotion into a senior financial role, internal audit is the best route. You will have the opportunity to have an impact on the senior decision makers in the business, both locally and throughout the business's global offices, this enables you to get a very comprehensive understanding of the company and put you in a very good position to take on promotion. Most large blue chip organisations will highlight this in an internal audit interview giving them a chance to select the best candidates for the long-term future of the business.

Professional Auditors who traditionally take the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) route will also use elements of internal audit to gain promotion but predominantly within the audit, risk and compliance function, by moving up the ladder and into a head of audit/risk or compliance based role. Whilst this route still promotes the need for controls and process improvement candidates are less likely to be qualified accountants having taken the IIA route.