Auditor Resume Example

Auditors are vital to a business economy. They review and verify the accuracy of financial records, ensure that companies comply with tax laws, and search for ways to boost profits. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Auditors can make between $80,000 and $130,000 a year. In order to secure that top pay, let us help you craft a resume that will entice even the finickiest of employers.   

Let’s get started!

In this article, we’ll discuss the following:

1. Which format is right for your resume
2. How to write a resume summary 
3. Describing your work experience
4. Listing your skills
5. Including your education 
6. Naming your certifications
7. Choosing the right template

Auditor Sample Resume

Senior Auditor, Wolf LLC.

• Oversaw all audit and accounting reports as required for internal audit procedures
• Supervised 4 junior auditors and trained them on company-specific procedures
• Organized and maintained financial records, tax preparation, and periodic inspection of accounting books and practices
• Analyzed financial documents to detect unusual financial relationships
• Planned and conducted  operational and financial audits quarterly and annually 
• Ensured all financial statements aligned with GAAP
• Generated comprehensive reports on audit findings and shared findings with upper management
• Identified financial information material misstatements and deficiencies 
• Provided recommendations on improvement of internal controls
• Completed detailed financial audits in accordance with both federal and state regulations

Auditor, InkBlot Solutions

• Advised upper management on risk aversion strategies
• Implemented operational improvements to improve profit margins by 10%
• Maintained financial records, tax preparation, and periodic inspection of accounting books and practices
• Uncovered areas of overspending that saved the company $600,000+, which was then allocated to research and development
• Safeguarded client assets by recommending strategies to improve profits and reduce costs by 30% on average
• Examined company accounts and financial control systems

Auditor, Greene & Packard

• Investigated areas of fraudulent activity to ensure compliance with regulations
• Developed proactive measures to uncover errors with 40% greater efficiency
• Created detailed financial recordkeeping methods to support fiscal reporting
• Implemented measures to decrease operational waste by 16%
• Prepared monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with state and federal regulations
• Reviewed employee wages and discovered fraudulent ghost checks on payroll, saving the company $450,000 annually 

1. Choose the Right Format for an Auditor Resume

The first step to drafting your resume is deciding which resume format to use. This depends on your career experience and skillset. 

You have 3 main options for your resume:

1. Reverse-Chronological -- this is the most commonly used resume format. With this structure, place your most recent jobs first, followed by the next most recent job, and ending with your oldest position. 

Tip: only include jobs relevant to the position to which you’re applying, so leave out any former jobs that don’t fit. For example, you wouldn’t include your experience as a cashier because it bears little connection to your current occupation and it doesn’t give the employer any useful information about your auditing abilities. 

2. Functional -- this format is best for people who have been out of the workforce for a while, perhaps because they had to care for children or an elderly parent. This format lists your specific skills and qualifications. 

Have headers like “Communication” and “Financial Skills” with their respective skills listed in bullet points below. At the very end, include a brief snapshot of your work history.  

3. Hybrid / Combination -- this format is a mix of both Functional and Reverse-Chronological. It provides more detailed work experience descriptions that would typically be seen in the latter, while still offering a bulleted list of skills.  

Tip: When in doubt, choose the Reverse-Chronological resume format. 

For an Auditor, hiring managers want to glance at your resume and get a sense of the following:

• Experience reviewing financial documents
• Knowledge of tax codes and financial regulations
• Time Management, organization, efficiency

The best format for a Career is the Reverse-Chronological resume format. This is because auditing involves practical application of financial knowledge, and employers want to see how you’ve applied this knowledge throughout your work history.   

2. Write a Strong Auditor Resume Summary

84% of resumes that are rejected are pushed aside because they’re too impersonal. A resume summary can help fix this by showing the recruiter a snapshot of who you are and what you have to offer. 

A resume summary is one or two sentences at the top of your paper that summarizes your entire resume. It’s the punch line that gets the resume reviewer wanting to know more.

For an Auditor career, include the following points in your summary

• The amount of time you’ve worked as an Auditor
• A quantifiable accomplishment. Did you save a company money? Did you improve profits by a certain percentage?
• An adjective or two about your personality. Are you “disciplined,” “structured,” “organized?” 

Here is an example of a bad resume summary: Auditor experienced in reviewing financial documents for accuracy. 

This is the definition of an auditor, and it doesn’t reveal anything specific about YOU. 

Here is an example of a good resume summary: Organized Auditor with 12+ years experience ensuring businesses’ financials are accurate and lawful. Recommended best practices to management resulting in 12% profits savings.

This summary gives a sense of you -- you’re “organized” and have over a decade of experience. It also gives the recruiter a sense of your abilities, notably that you’re adept at saving businesses money. 

For more information, checkout our guide on writing a killer resume summary.

3. Describe Your Work Experience as an Auditor

The next step to drafting your resume is to list your work experience. This includes the name of your position (e.g., Senior Auditor), the name of the location at which you worked, and the length of time in which you worked. 

Furthermore, write your resume experience in a way that anyone in your industry will understand. Don't use company-specific language.

For example, let’s say you worked at a place that called a Form 10-K a “comprehensive form.” Not everyone is going to know what “comprehensive form” means, so it’s best to stick with the common name of Form 10-K, otherwise a hiring manager may not know what you’re talking about, and if the manager is confused, they’re more likely to throw out your resume and move onto the next.  

You should also quantify your resume whenever possible. This means adding a number -- such as a dollar amount or percentage -- to your accomplishments. Quantifying your resume gives the hiring manager a more concrete idea of your workplace performance. For example, say that you “supervised 3 junior auditors,” “implemented proactive measures that reduced discrepancies by 20%,” or “saved the business $30,000.”   

Tip: One way to quantify your resume is by listing your accomplishments and awards. 

For more information on how to format your work experience, check out our guide. Don’t have any work experience? We have a guide for that too!

4. List Your Skills

Skills show the hiring manager what you can do for the company -- without taking up too much space in the “work experience” part of your resume.

There are two types of skills -- soft and hard. “Soft” skills are those that are not quantifiable and are more indicative of your personality. Examples include leadership, problem-solving, and communication. In contrast, “hard” skills are those that are learned through formal education. Examples include computer technology, programming languages, and certifications.  

You should include both soft and hard skills on your resume. This shows hiring managers not only that you’re knowledgeable in the financial field, but also that you have desirable qualities like being organized or detail-oriented.  

 Relevant Skills

• Organized
• Time Management
• Meticulous
• Detail-Oriented
• Vouching
• Reconciliation
• Financial Analysis
• Testing
• Scanning 
• Risk Management
• Consulting
• Reporting
• Regulatory Compliance

If you want a more complete list of skills, read our guide on the proper way to include skills on your resume.

5. Include an Education Section 

Auditors need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, economics, or data analytics. It’s also advisable to intern at a public accounting firm during your college years, in order to get some real-world experience with auditing. 

Most firms want their auditors to be a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). This requires passing an intense four-part exam and completing state qualifications. 

6. Mention Certifications Relevant to the Job

Certifications show employers that you’re expanding on your skills and diversifying your experiences. Not only are you more knowledgeable, but you’re also more employable. 

Certification programs for Auditors include:

• Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)
• Certified Financial Forensics (CFF)
• Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)
• Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) 
• Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA)
• Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)
• Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)
• Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) 
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA) 
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

For more information on certifications, check out our guide on how to include certifications on your resume the right way.

7. Pick the Right Template

Now it’s time for the fun part -- picking the aesthetics of your resume! 

Here at EasyResume, we offer 4 different templates. 

• Creative: these resumes are bold and colorful with eye-catching fonts to help you stand out from the crowd. This is best for those in creative fields like marketing and art. 
• Simple: these resumes follow a clear, straightforward format that highlight you and your experiences. This is best for those in fields that prefer austerity, such as the healthcare and finance industries. 
• Modern: these resumes have sleek designs that are fresh and bold with elegant fonts and clean lines. This is best for individuals applying to startups or to companies with a young audience or product.
• Professional: these resumes have a clean, crisp look that incorporates only one or two accent colors. The focus is solely on the text, pulling the recruiter into your experiences and accomplishments. This is best for individuals applying to straight-laced companies that mandate a suit-and-tie dress code. 

Your resume template should reflect the job to which you’re applying. For an Auditor, try a Professional or Simple format. 

8. Takeaways

We’ve done it! Almost. 

Now it’s time to get down to business -- actually creating the resume. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

• Research the job description to locate keywords
• Use a Reverse-Chronological resume layout
• Write your resume summary, including a few adjectives describing your personality, the length of your work history, and a quantifiable accomplishment 
• Include your education and relevant certifications, such as CPA
• Write your experience section in a way that any outsider could understand. Talk more about the how and why of your responsibilities. Quantify your results.
• Pick a resume template that fits the position to which you’re applying, like Simple or Professional.

Start from our resume example to save time, and you’ll soon be back to reviewing financial records galore!