Auditor

What You Do

An auditor’s primary concern is to ensure that all aspects of an organization’s information systems are functioning as it was designed. As an auditor, you will basically inspect:

• programs,
• systems,
• operational procedures,
• documentation,
• control techniques,
• disaster plans, and
• insurance and fire protection.

Who You Do It For

Auditors usually work in the finance or auditing department of an organization, or they may be employed by accounting or CPA firms.

How You Do It

Depending on the size and scope of a project, you will work alone or with a team of auditors. Whether working alone or in a team, you will be required to follow a set of audit procedures and standards when you conduct your job.

Your job will involve gathering information by:

• interviewing users,
• examining records and documentation, and
• running audit test programs on the computer system.

Challenges

To be an auditor, you must enjoy working in an environment that follows a set of precise standards, procedures and routines. Although there is contact with other people, as an auditor you will spend most of your time dealing with data, details and computers.

Auditors must continually keep abreast of changes in technologies and the impacts these have on ensuring the integrity and accuracy of systems and information flows.

At times auditors must investigate, challenge and identify problems with an organization’s systems or procedures. Bringing such problems to the attention of IT staff and management doesn’t make auditors the most popular people in the organization, but their efforts contribute to making the systems more robust and protecting the organization more successfully from risks.

Working Conditions

Usually auditors work in comfortable offices, although they are required to conduct audits at their customer’s establishments. Generally, they work a 40-hour week. However, as with other jobs in the software industry, overtime is necessary when there are tight deadlines.

Like other workers who spend their time in front of a computer terminal, auditors are susceptible to eyestrain, back discomfort and hand and wrist problems.

With the number of networks and the accessibility of systems through the Internet increasing, the demand for auditors will continue to rise.