Businesses are audited by compliance auditors to ensure that they are following established standards, policies, and procedures. A person in this position may seek to ensure that the company’s regulations, as well as those established by the government, are followed. A compliance auditor typically obtains a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as accounting or finance. Job candidates with experience in accounting or a financial field may be preferred by some employers. A person who is interested in this field may also seek training in the industry in which he wishes to work.
A compliance auditor may work alone or as part of a team, depending on the company where he works. He usually reviews records in this position to ensure that a company or department is operating in accordance with acceptable standards, company policies, and applicable laws. When a professional in this field discovers that a company or department is out of compliance, he may make suggestions for resolving the issue. He could also keep track of the changes made in order to become compliant. A person working in this field must also keep track of his findings, whether positive or negative.
To work as a compliance auditor, a person must first complete high school and then obtain a bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting. While master’s degrees are not required for this career, a person interested in it may pursue one to increase his job opportunities and chances of advancement. A person pursuing a career in this field may also require prior experience in a financial field or in the field in which he intends to work. A person wishing to work in the field of environmental resource management, for example, would benefit from gaining experience with environmental regulations and requirements.
In addition to education and experience, a compliance auditor must possess certain characteristics in order to be a good fit for the job. A person interested in this field, for example, should be able to work independently. He must also be trustworthy and capable of conducting objective evaluations. A compliance auditor typically requires excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as a willingness to keep private information confidential. A person in this field is also expected to be organized and detail-oriented.