[Anonymous]

I passed audit it was actually my highest score. I have 4 weeks before I start. Should I review my materials and “re-master” it? Or just wait until training? I have CPAexcel which is pretty thorough!!! I am thinking about going over everything again as if I was preparing for the audit CPA exam aiming for 90.

[zoctoman]

Congrats on the new Job and passing the CPA exam! I started my audit position almost one year go. I will give you some advice:

– If you are planning on brushing up on anything, brush up on your debits and credits. It is funny because you would think that if you are starting an audit job that you should study your auditing materials. In truth there are some ways studying audit can help you, like knowing terms like Statement of Functional expenses and what a natural classification is etc…

But, when you start your audit position, you will not be determing many planning steps. You will basically be told what tests to perform. It is within these tests that debits and credits matter more. You will have to make “adjusting journal entries” that require knowledge of financial accounting.

I don't think it is necessary to study hard before your job. Any question you have can easily be answered by your superior or co-worker. I think it is more important to rest before starting. You need to come in fresh.

Your biggest challenge when you start as an auditor will be to get used to the software, protocols, daily routines of your place of work. It is weird at first traveling to all of the clients. You will be set up in some nice fancy offices as well as some dumpy workspaces, or even a warehouse with no heat in the dead of winter!

When we study auditing in school(cpa exam) we learn how to conduct an audit from beginning to end. When you start your job your superiors will be the ones deciding all of these planning stages. You will be thrown ino the weeds and have to tally receipts, foot schedules, and watch people perform their different functions(AP/Payroll/AR etc..)

I am excited for you and hope you enjoy auditing as much as I do. With your score on Audit it shows you have more than enough conceptual understanding of Audit. You will actually be underutilized in that capacity when you start. Just rest up and be ready to dive into a lot of fun/tedious/challenging tasks!

Audit(11/5/13) - 89
Reg(5/16/14) - 86
FAR(7/18/14) - 82
BEC(11/14) - 85

[Anonymous]

I'm currently an internal auditor with a fortune 1000 company. Everything I know was taught to me when I got here. Passing the AUD exam did provide me the vocab to be able to follow along in planning meetings and things like that, but it definitely did not help me with the groundwork for what I do on a daily basis. You have a great opportunity ahead of you. Make the most of it, not just with expanding your base of knowledge, but also your network. Good luck.

[Matt]

I started my first accounting job as an auditor just over a month and a half ago. I had re-studied my CPA exam AUD section materials to try to help prepare myself, but honestly, it didn't help much. In retrospect, I should have focused on (1) cash flow proof worksheet, equity rollforward, trial balance, and EPS calculation, and (2) stocking up on sleep!

AUD: 88
BEC: 79
REG: 81
FAR: 72 » 74 » 88

Study method: 100% watching videos, including solving problems covered therein; no books, paper, or pencils

[Anonymous]

No presumption of prior knowledge when you start as an auditor – I wouldn't worry at all about studying to get a head start on your job, least of all reviewing the CPA study materials. While it's good to have a basic understanding of the topics covered in the exam, none of it is going to help you navigate your new firm's software, office protocols, or getting up to speed with Excel. Probably not going to be a lot of help either with the actual mechanics of completing a workpaper like cash, which is something you can expect to be assigned as a new audit hire.

If you wanted to try to get a head start, what I would recommend more than anything would be to research and start to learn the Excel keyboard shortcuts. If you can break the habit of using a mouse and move entirely to the keyboard to use the computer, then that will make you many times more efficient at Excel. The faster you can become competent at using Excel, the better off you will be.

Honestly, though, if I were you I would just enjoy the time you have left before you start and not think too hard about it. There will be plenty of time to worry about work later.

[Anonymous]

Anybody else want to add anything. I like this thread I'll be starting as a full time auditor in September. I've heard the majority of people say brush up on excel don't worry about anything else.

[More_Coffee]

I agree with everything zoctoman said. Brushing up on your Excel skills would probably be useful too… definitely shortcut keys, as well as using sumif's, vlookups, and pivot tables 🙂 It's not a big deal if you don't though, someone in your office will likely be able to help if you get stuck in a situation where you need to use a vlookup.

Otherwise, I wouldn't stress out too much. They won't expect you to know everything… just to have a basic understanding. You can't really break the audit because you won't be making any high-level decisions as a new staff.

I remember my first day… a couple of the seniors came in and told us that the two things they did expect from us were a willingness to learn and that we would be at the job on time. Don't be the new guy that shows up late, haha.

You guys will be fine! It's a fun job. 🙂 Congrats to both of you!

REG - 86 (4/11/15)
BEC - 92 (5/29/15)
AUD - 99 (7/23/15)
FAR - 89 (11/23/15) It's over!!!
>> Becker Self Study

[Author]

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