[sickoffar]

I have a question for you all and would appreciate any feedback!

My background:

Bachelor degree of Accounting

Master’s degree of Accountancy- concentration in auditing/financial accounting. During this year, worked as a graduate teaching assistant at that University.

I took a couple of months off after finishing up the Master’s to pass the CPA exams.

After I finished my bachelor degree I realized 2 things: I don’t like tax and I don’t want to get into public accounting. I am a hard-working person, but I just cannot picture myself working all those long hours, working on Saturdays, or traveling over 50% as an external auditor. I searched high and low for an entry-level position in internal auditing with no luck, so I accepted a position as an accountant for a large private organization.

Here I am 2 years later, I’ve been searching and applying for internal audit positions for 3 months now. I’ve been receiving a lot of interviews, but they all end the same way: “Your resume is impressive-but we need someone with at least 3 years of prior auditing experience.” How am I supposed to start my career if EVERYONE is looking for experienced individuals?

How possible is it to get a job in internal auditing with prior experience only in accounting? Is it possible to become an internal auditor with no public firm experience?

If I could go back in time, I would have slowed down my Bachelor degree, found an internship in a large private firm and gotten a job with them after graduation. I would not have done my Master’s and I would have worried about the CPA later. Firms want experience, not education.

[ruggercpa2b]

Does your current organization have an internal audit department? You could start there. If not then I would keep applying. I had a finance degree and my first job was in IA. So you should be able to get a job. I do remember when I was looking to leave my first job after one of working a lot of the places I interviewed wanted more experience.

Another thing I would do is sit down and look at what IA is looking for and then restructure your resume to point out what you do now or have done in the past that would make you a good candidate. For example the ability to look at prior year returns and figuring things out on your own. Auditors do that as well. An accounting position means you know something about the financial side.

Good Luck!

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[DTBird]

My career almost mirrors yours, with the exception of I spent 4 years in the Military before school.

BS in Acct
MS in Acct

When I graduated with my BS I started as a Staff Accountant for a real estate company. Worked there for 2.5 years before realizing the growth potential just wasn't where It needed to be. I really wanted to get into Internal Audit for the reasons you stated. I am now an Internal Auditor for Waste Management… Before I give you advice, let me preface what we do as internal auditors.

Internal Auditors in 2016 are moving more toward a Process Review stand point. We are no longer the compliance police within a company. We want to help the business by auditing the processes, and making meaningful recommendations to help improve those processes. We don't do much financial auditing (with the exception of 2 months of SOX testing).

Having said that, I would gear your Resume more towards a Process Improvement stand point. Yes, still point out your excellent Financial Accounting background, but try to focus on process improvement, and operations.

I hope this helps.

BEC - 77 (5/16)
AUD - TBD (8/16)
REG - 80 (1/16)
FAR - 76 (8/15)

[ruggercpa2b]

DTBird is right. At my first job they looked at us as more resources for the people within the company. They would call us for advice and how to proceed with certain things. And during audits we would always look to see what we could help improve. In the past Internal Auditors had a bad rep because you would be there policing and telling people what they do wrong.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[foreseeableCPA]

I'd like to point out that IA sometimes is split up into SOX & operational audits. I'd assume that SOX positions would like to have prior accounting experience, but as for entry level operational IA positions, I wouldn't think much experience would be required. That is only my opinion and from I have seen. In my most recent IA position, they hired staff with business/economics degrees and even made exceptions for some candidates that didn't come from any business related background. It really all depends on the tone at the top. I would think that you'd be qualified for an entry level internal auditor position. It is hard to obtain a senior level without audit experience.

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[Author]

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