Audit Manager Jobs Overview
Do you have accounting skills that you want to put to good use? If you're thinking of advancing in accounting, audit manager jobs may interest you.
Audit managers may identify process risks for businesses. They conduct financial audits, develop testing methodologies, and much more. These professionals work either internally or externally.
Expected job growth for accountants and auditors is about 4%, which is average. Audit managers may work in government, corporate, private, or other sectors.
Although workdays may vary for different companies, most audit managers work business hours. Audit managers may work on some weekends. For example, some may work Saturdays during tax season.
Audit Manager Salary
The median audit manager salary is $78,000 per year. The top-paying jobs are in finance and insurance.
Business or corporate roles rank second for the highest pay. Roles in accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation rank third. Government jobs rank fourth.
Salaries can vary based on experience, industry, and location. Find more specific information about audit manager salaries in your area with Monster's salary calculator.
How to Find the Audit Manager Job That Fits You
Do you have special certifications or training? What are your career goals and interests? Think about how they relate to audit manager positions to help you look for the right job.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as an accounting professional? Spend some time thinking about them. Doing this can help you in both your job search and future interviews.
Think about what you want most from a job. Do you want a healthy work-life balance so that you can spend time with your family and friends? Or do good benefits and growth opportunities interest you more?
Identify Your Qualifications
Read carefully through the job description. Although many employers include qualifications in a convenient list, some include important qualifications elsewhere.
For example, one listing may require five years of accounting experience and a degree. However, the employer may mention elsewhere that the company requires someone with CPA certification. Perhaps you have five years of accounting experience but aren't a CPA.
Many audit manager positions require a college degree and CPA certification. Research the CPA qualifications and testing requirements in your state. You may need to obtain your certification before applying for audit manager jobs.
Learn About the Employer
It helps to find a workplace with a culture that suits you. Read through the company's website. What's its mission? Identify its vision and values as well.
How about the work environment? Do you prefer a small office or a large, fast-paced workplace? Research the size of the workforce, the company's management style, and other factors that are important to you.
Determine Your Growth Potential
Can you advance within the company, or would you need to change employers to advance? If you're looking to stay with one company, consider those factors.
Large companies may offer opportunities for lateral or vertical growth. For example, you may make a lateral move and become a financial advisor at a large firm, or you may vertically advance from auditor to audit manager. In some companies, you may eventually become a senior audit manager or an executive.
If your advancement goals require additional training, find out if the company provides it. Many companies believe in investing in their workforce and keeping valuable employees.
How to Apply
Start by reviewing the qualifications and job responsibilities to see if they match your abilities or experience. If they do, write down your matching abilities. For example, maybe you have experience in private equity and real estate audits.
Look for special application instructions. Some employers may require you to attach proof of a certification or another credential. Others may require more references than you currently have to offer.
Craft an Effective Resume
As you examine the job description, look for keywords. For example, resume keywords for audit manager jobs may include:
- risk assessment
- internal audits
- industry trends
- audit plans
Write down the job posting's keywords that relate to your skills. Edit your resume to include those keywords in the appropriate places. Include applicable keywords for skills, experience, and education.
Check out our advice about the top 10 resume mistakes to avoid. Learn how to focus on accomplishments instead of duties and create a more powerful resume.
Do you wonder what resumes should look like for audit manager jobs? This auditor resume shows what to include. If you need help creating an impactful resume, check out Monster's Professional Resume Writing Service.
Write a Meaningful Cover Letter
You can help your resume stand out by including a good cover letter. It should be less than a page, neat, and concise. Say why you like the company and why the hiring manager should pick you.
The details in the letter are also relevant to the position. If you were a hiring manager, which of your personal accomplishments would seem most attractive for the position? Focus on those.
Submit Your Online Application
Applying through Monster is quick and easy. Create a free account to send in your application. You'll receive notifications about other audit manager jobs or similar positions. Also, you'll receive a professional resume review for free.
Before you click the submit button, double-check your information. Are all your numbers and dates correct on your resume? Do you see any grammatical errors? Did you follow all the instructions or requirements?
Following Up After Applying
Many employers in the financial industry contact applicants about interviews and notify them about hiring decisions. However, it still shows initiative to follow up. If the job listing specifies a contact method, use that one, or try to find an appropriate contact on the company's website.
Timing is one of the key considerations. Hiring managers need time to review applications and schedule interviews. Wait one to two weeks before you contact the company.
Create a Follow-Up Message
Like a cover letter, your follow-up message should be short and impactful. Pick a few key strengths of yours that apply to the specific position. State your interest in the job and company, and list those key strengths.
Interviewing for Audit Manager Jobs
Getting chosen for an interview is exciting. Increase your chances of getting the job by following this preparation advice.
Research the Employer
Did you already learn about the company when you researched it before applying? If not, research its values, mission, and vision.
Also, find out all you can about the job position. Do past audit managers have positive things to say about the role and the company? Does the company have a good reputation in the financial industry?
Interview Rounds
Some companies conduct in-person interviews. If there are multiple interviews, one may take place over the phone.
During that conversation, you can ask the recruiter or hiring manager whether to expect additional interviews. Some companies conduct two or three interviews.
Getting Through the Interview Process
As you start the interview, be conscientious about remaining confident. Try to maintain your authenticity at every step.
Have you been to interviews for audit manager jobs in the past? Whether you have or not, it helps to be familiar with common questions.
Hiring managers will likely ask questions about situations that involve ethical dilemmas. They also want to know if you can handle all the requirements of the job.
Many hiring managers ask behavioral questions. They prefer specific answers about how you respond to situations or problems. The STAR method is a good approach for answering such questions.
What is the STAR technique? To use it, you think of a situation, the corresponding task, your actions, and the result.
For example, let's imagine that an interviewer wants to know how you would handle correspondence delays with management. Since timely audit completion is essential at the company, such delays cause problems. What would you do?
Keeping the STAR technique in mind, think of a similar situation you faced. State the related task, what you did, and the beneficial aspects of the outcome.
There may also be interview questions that test competency. For instance, imagine that a job requires knowledge of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The interviewer may ask questions that test your knowledge.
Interview questions vary from one company to another. If you want to get a feel for potential questions, check out our list of 100 common interview questions.
Following Up After Your Interview
After about a day, you should reach out to the employer to follow up. Briefly reiterate your key skills. Express your interest in working for the employer.
What happens if the employer doesn't reply to your email or return your phone call? Some companies may take longer to make hiring decisions. In the meantime, you can continue searching for other audit manager jobs.
What to Do When You Get an Audit Manager Job Offer
Congratulations! Right after you pat yourself on the back, send a cordial email to thank the employer. Be sure to understand benefits, salary, and scheduling details before you accept.
Tell the hiring manager how much time you need to consider the offer. Also, be honest with the employer if you're considering other offers.
Compare the offered benefits to those for other audit manager jobs. How about the salary? Is it too low for your training or experience?
Is the schedule not what you expected? Are the responsibilities manageable or too much for you? Consider your future goals, financial needs, and priorities as you consider the offer.
It's acceptable to negotiate the terms or make a counteroffer, and hiring managers appreciate honesty. Communicate your needs and requirements. Hiring managers may make reasonable adjustments.
Audit Manager Career Paths
Audit manager jobs come in several forms. How do you determine which path is right for you? Spend some time researching your options to compare them to your priorities.
Network with other professionals in related positions. Those connections can help you as you progress toward your goals. Also, take advantage of any advancement opportunities your employer offers. Some companies pay for additional training.
Two of the most common types of audit managers are internal audit managers and external audit managers. If you're interested in technology, an IT audit manager job may interest you.
Similar Occupations
Some audit managers eventually move to similar occupations. These are some examples that are similar to audit manager jobs: