Bank Auditor Jobs in the United States

Bank Auditor Jobs Overview

If you enjoy analyzing data and identifying patterns, consider starting a career as a bank auditor. Bank auditor jobs involve assessing the veracity and accuracy of a bank's financial records. When working in this role, your goal is to make sure banks adhere to local and federal finance laws.

Bank auditors are also responsible for evaluating a financial institution's internal controls and identifying areas where it can make improvements. In this job, you'll detect instances of fraud, identify risks to the bank, and recommend improvements to their financial practices. If you perform your tasks well, you'll support regulatory adherence and safeguard the bank's integrity.

You can work in a variety of settings and environments. Bank auditors often have the choice to apply to CPA firms or banks. You'll complete some of your duties in a traditional office setting; however, you'll perform audits within banks, which means that you may travel for the job.

Bank auditor jobs don't always involve standard hours. You'll often have 40-hour workweeks. During the tax season or the final days of the fiscal year, your workload can increase, which may lead to 60-hour weeks.

Salary

Bank auditor jobs come with annual salaries that can range from $70,185 to $109,594. However, the lower range of this scale mainly applies to self-employed individuals. The median annual salary for this job is $86,937.

The amount you earn depends on your experience, the company you work for, and your location. Some of the highest-paying cities for bank auditor jobs include:

• Atlanta, GA - $110,216
• Chicago, IL - $115,363
• Denver, CO - $124,483
• Seattle, WA - $142,050
• San Jose, CA - $185,428

You can find the median salaries for auditing jobs in your area with our salary calculator. Search for salaries by entering a job title and location. During the search, you'll also see salaries for similar jobs.

How to Find Bank Auditor Jobs That Fit You

To find jobs that will suit you well, identify your interests and career goals. Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses to make sure you apply for the right jobs.

Before you sort through job listings, find out what you want from the position. If your main goal is to take the next step in your career, consider applying to a bank that provides opportunities for growth. If you want a more flexible schedule that accommodates your preferred work-life balance, you could obtain a part-time position.

Review the Job Description and Assess Your Qualifications

Decide whether the requirements and responsibilities within the description match your current experience and skills. Consider areas where you might need more training or development.

For example, some bank auditor jobs ask for CIA or CPA certifications. The job you're thinking of applying for might require several years of experience as an internal auditor. If you believe a job with stricter requirements can help you advance your career, take steps to gain the necessary qualifications.

Research the Company and Its Culture

Before applying for bank auditor jobs, research any company that interests you. See if their culture and values align with your own.

You can also read online reviews from employees to learn about management styles and team dynamics. Doing this research beforehand increases the chances that you'll find a job you like.

Look for Growth Opportunities

There are numerous ways to build a successful bank auditing career. The simplest method for progressing in your career is to receive promotions from within the company. When you're researching various job descriptions, look for opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Determine if the job provides opportunities for learning and growth. For example, senior auditors often manage teams of bank auditors. Make sure the company you're applying to offers more senior positions.

Consider how the job fits within your long-term career goals. If you want to eventually land a position as an audit manager, does this job help you reach your goals?

How to Apply for Bank Auditor Jobs

The application process for bank auditor jobs involves creating a resume and writing a cover letter. Before you begin this process, review the job description. Look for key auditing skills and qualifications that you should focus on.

The employer may provide specific instructions for the application. Follow them closely to demonstrate your attention to detail.

Create an Effective Resume

Your resume makes up the brunt of your application. To create an effective resume that gets in front of the hiring manager, find keywords that you can place in the document.

Most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan and sort applications, which is why resume keywords are necessary. Include key phrases like these:

• prepare investment proposals
• maintain compliance
• identify risks
• audit management
• locate control weaknesses
• executive-level reporting

When you're writing about your skills and experience, include as many of these keywords as possible. Pair the right keywords with an effective format to ensure you write your resume correctly.

If you have some experience, consider using the chronological format. After you write a resume objective, list your experience. Begin with your most recent jobs.

Write about your education, skills, and certifications after the experience section. The types of skills that applications for bank auditor jobs should contain include:

• CIA or CPA certification
• knowledge of risk management programs
• excellent preparation of reports
• proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and other accounting software
• strong collaboration and management skills
• knowledge of data analytics

You can gain access to a well-written and effective resume by using the Monster Professional Resume Writing Service. You'll receive a highly personalized resume that's written by an expert who has comprehensive industry knowledge.

Write a Persuasive Cover Letter

Your finance cover letter is the introduction to your resume, which means it's the first thing the hiring manager sees when reading your application. To make a good first impression, include your experience and skills that are most relevant to the job description. If the job description requires three years of experience in wealth management, include this info in your cover letter.

Cover letters are always necessary for bank auditor jobs. Avoid using a template when writing these letters. Customize each one to the company and the job you're applying for.

Submit Your Application

Apply for your bank auditor job via Monster. Just create an account to upload your resume and cover letter. It's that easy.

Your Monster account provides many advantages that can help you during your job search. For example, you'll instantly get job recommendations that match your skills and interests. You can also request a free professional resume review.

Before applying, reread your entire application to check for spelling errors and grammar mistakes. Slowly read your cover letter and resume aloud to identify mistakes, or ask a friend to check them. Make sure that no relevant information is missing from the application.

How to Follow Up With an Employer

After applying for a bank auditor job, you must follow up with the employer. However, the proper timing is crucial. Wait 10 to 14 business days to make sure they have time to review your application and consider all applicants.

How to Follow Up

Whether you're applying to a bank or CPA firm, crafting a good follow-up message may help you garner more interest from the hiring manager. Keep it professional and brief. If you're writing the message by email, make sure it's only a few paragraphs long.

Your main goal is to focus on your qualifications. Mention the ones that are relevant to the specific bank auditor job you're applying for.

If the employer is seeking an applicant who knows how to implement an internal audit risk assessment, write a sentence or two about your familiarity with this process. Before you send the email, proofread it.

Who to Follow Up With

Follow up with the hiring manager. You may find their information in the job posting. If it's not there, call the company's human resources department or check their website.

Interviewing Tips

To prepare for your interview, research the company as well as the job position. Knowing more about the bank or CPA firm can help you provide more informed answers. During an interview, it's a good idea to describe how you can help the company achieve its goals.

Before you go to the interview, practice answering some of the top interview questions you expect to receive. The types of questions that interviewers often ask when hiring bank auditors include:

• What are your next steps if you suspect that a bank is committing fraud?
• How would you train an audit associate?
• How do you resolve disagreements with your colleagues?
• Do you know how to use Microsoft Office applications to efficiently perform auditing tasks?
• Can you explain how you create risk-based audit plans?
• What is the purpose of an internal audit?

Consider practicing your answers to some of these questions with a friend or family member who can serve as the interviewer. This can help ease your anxiety once the interview rolls around.

Interview Process

The interview process for bank auditor jobs is often lengthy and can involve anywhere from two to five rounds of interviews. If you're applying at a bank or CPA firm, your first interview may take place by phone or video. Subsequent interviews can occur at the job site.

The hiring manager will likely conduct the interview. You'll receive competency-based questions and behavioral questions that aim to explore your skills to determine if you're right for the job. Read the "responsibilities" section in the job listing to get a good sense of the questions you'll need to answer.

Interview Tips

Acing an interview means properly displaying your skills and qualifications while answering questions. Bank auditor jobs often involve analyzing financial data and making informed conclusions from the information at your disposal.

Answer any behavioral questions you receive with the STAR technique, which stands for situation, task, action and result. The interviewer may ask you a question like "How do you react when you discover a major compliance issue during an audit?" If you have auditing experience, you can answer this question with an example from your past.

During any interview for a bank auditor job, it's important to be confident and authentic when answering questions. Showing the hiring manager that you're ready for the job is as much about how you present yourself as it is about how you answer questions.

Follow Up

Following up after an interview requires the right timing and communication method. First, send a thank-you email to the hiring manager. Don't forget to express your interest in the job and recap your qualifications.

If you don't receive a response within a week, contact the hiring manager by phone or email. It's a good idea to talk about your interest in the job and why you believe you're a good fit.

Consider mentioning something from the interview or asking follow-up questions. When you're nearing the end of the conversation, inquire about the status of the position.

What to Do When You Get an Offer

Once you get an offer, take a day or two to consider your response. Carefully reviewing the offer is necessary to ensure you make the right decision. Thank the hiring manager immediately, and let them know that you need to take some time before providing an answer.

The main aspects of the offer you should look for include the salary, job responsibilities, and benefits. If any details in the offer don't line up with your expectations, seek clarification from the hiring manager.

You may need to negotiate salary and benefits with your employer. Before doing so, become familiar with the salary trends in your industry. Having data on your side can help you build your case.

Career Paths

As a bank auditor, you have several viable career paths you can take. Bank auditor jobs give you skills that you can transfer to more senior positions. With your strong analytics and corporate compliance skills, you could apply for numerous financial positions within your organization.

The first step for a bank auditor usually involves becoming a senior auditor or internal audit manager. You may eventually become a client relationships manager or financial director. Keep in mind that senior financial auditors often lead audit teams and manage complex projects.

An effective way to discover the next step in your career is to take advantage of any professional development and networking opportunities that come your way. When working as a bank auditor, you can grow your network and improve your prospects by joining a professional association.

Two associations that can give you the resources and tools you need to improve your auditing career and build a network include The Institute of Internal Auditors and the American Bankers Association. Joining an association can also enhance your resume.

You might want to develop your skills by obtaining an auditing certification or completing a master's degree program. The three primary certifications available to bank auditors are:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Similar Occupations

You can transfer your bank auditor skills to a similar occupation if you're looking for a career change. The main options at your disposal include:

• actuary jobs
• financial analyst jobs
• accounting clerk jobs
• forensic accountant jobs
• tax preparer jobs