Finance and audit
Financial auditor CV: example and template
This example is for external auditors and audit assistants at audit firms, including large networks, for people preparing for the statutory auditor exams and for finance and accounting graduates starting in audit.
The employer wants to know which audits you have carried out, in which industries, to which standards, what your role in the team was and how far you are with your exams. We show you how to describe this on your CV.
How to write a financial auditor CV
Professional summary
Write how long you have worked in audit, which audits you carry out, in which industries and to which standards. Add how far you are with the statutory auditor exams or your ACCA qualification, because in audit it is the basis for promotion. If you lead a field team, mention it in your summary.
Finance and accounting graduate after an internship at an audit firm during the audit season. I tested receivables and payables, attended stock counts and know the basics of IFRS. I have started the ACCA exams. I am looking for work as an audit assistant.
Experience: duties and achievements
Describe the number and type of companies audited, industries, standards, audit areas and your role. Show what you are responsible for on your own and how many people you lead. Do not name clients if professional secrecy applies.
Weaker: Auditing statements.
Better: Leading audits of 8 to 10 companies a season, including 2 groups.
Weaker: Planning.
Better: Audit planning, risk and materiality assessment and dividing tasks in a team of 3 to 5 assistants.
Weaker: IFRS.
Better: IFRS audits for subsidiaries of foreign groups.
Skills worth listing
List standards, audit areas, methods and tools. In your soft skills show critical thinking, accuracy and work under deadline pressure, because the audit season means several months of intense work.
Professional skills
- Auditing statements
- Accounting standards
- Risk assessment
- Testing
- Working papers
- Analytical tools
Personal skills
- Critical thinking
- Accuracy
- Work under deadline pressure
- Leading a team
- Client communication
Qualifications
List how far you are with the statutory auditor exams, ACCA or other international qualifications and IFRS training. You become a statutory auditor after the exams and practice, so give your stage.
Auditor CV with no experience
Describe finance and accounting studies, seasonal internships at audit firms, student research clubs and competitions. Add the exams you have already started.
Audit firms take on graduates every year into assistant programmes. Show good English and Excel.
Tailoring your CV to the job offer
A large audit firm looks for IFRS, English and work in international teams, a smaller firm for a wide range of audits and independence, and a company's control department for knowing audit from the client side. Move to the top what the job ad is about.
Questions and answers
What should a financial auditor put on a CV?
The number and type of audits, industries, standards, audit areas, your role in the team, exam stage, qualifications and English.
How do you become a statutory auditor in Poland?
You need to pass the statutory auditor exams, complete the required practice and take the oath, then be entered in the register.
How does a financial auditor differ from an internal auditor?
A financial auditor audits statements for an external firm, while an internal auditor assesses processes and controls in their own organisation.
Does ACCA help in audit?
Yes, especially at international firms. Some ACCA exams may be recognised towards the statutory auditor exams.