An internal auditor is an employee of the company, whose work is
to check the financial records of the company and to ensure that
all transactions, including cash transactions are recorded
smoothly. In the highly competitive corporate world today, it has
become critical for every organisation to have a dedicated person
to do the job of the internal auditor. Finding the right person to
fit this role can be quite a challenge. A person with the right mix
of aptitude, skills, qualifications, and more importantly,
experience in the industry, is required to fit the role. Here are
some of the qualities, skills and knowledge that an internal
auditor should possess:
- Good communication skills: This is 1 of the vital traits that
an internal auditor should possess, that of good written and verbal
communication skills. They need to be able to compile reports, and
at the same time present their findings and work convincingly to
the top management. An internal auditor should be assertive and
patient, and at the same time have people skills.
- Experience: An internal auditor should have the necessary
academic qualifications as well as the required knowledge and
experience in the fields of business, accounting, finance,
book-keeping, taxation, etc. Experience counts, and the more number
of audits he has completed, more the knowledge and experience
gained by him
- Integrity: This is 1 of the must-have virtues of an internal
auditor. He should be able to stand up for his findings and put the
clear picture across to the top management. He should not get
side-lined or pushed-back by any employee of the company. He needs
to be tough and resilient in decision-making
- Analytic thinking: He should be able to critically analyse and
evaluate the data collated by him and offer strategic inputs on the
same
- Team-building: It is essential that the internal auditor is
able to collaborate with other internal auditors on the team, as
well as other staff members, in a mutually beneficial manner.
Various areas of expertise must come together to build a team for
this purpose.
The work of an internal auditor is complex, but these qualities
and traits will ensure that he is able to a successful one in
today's corporate world